Trump Signs Iran Memorandum of Understanding at Versailles
President Trump signed a 14-point memorandum of understanding with Iran on June 18, 2026, at the Palace of Versailles, just before a dinner hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron. The agreement is framed as ending active hostilities between the US-Israeli coalition and Iran. Trump told reporters the deal was necessary to prevent the Strait of Hormuz from remaining closed, claiming a prolonged closure would have triggered a “worldwide depression.”
The agreement is a memorandum of understanding, not a binding treaty. That distinction matters: a treaty requires two-thirds Senate ratification under Article II of the Constitution, while a memorandum carries no such constraint. Congress has not been formally consulted on the terms.
JD Vance Is Now the Administration’s Lead Dealmaker
Vice President JD Vance has taken point on defending the deal publicly, making him the face of a peace agreement that has drawn sharp criticism from American allies. Foreign Policy reported that Vance held a White House press conference on June 18 specifically to sell the agreement to skeptical reporters and foreign governments.
Vance was blunt when asked about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s reported anger over the deal:
“If I was in the cabinet of the Israeli government, I might not be attacking the only powerful ally that I have anywhere left in the entire world.”
Vice President JD Vance, White House press conference, June 18, 2026
He backed up that warning by noting that two-thirds of Israel’s defensive weaponry was “built by American hands and paid for by American tax dollars.” The US currently provides Israel roughly $4 billion in military assistance annually, according to the Guardian.
Iran Will Charge Fees in the Strait of Hormuz in 60 Days
The memorandum of understanding starts a 60-day negotiation period. Iran has already announced it will use that window to design and implement a maritime fee system for ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The strait carries roughly 20 percent of global oil trade. If Iran imposes tolls once the 60-day clock expires, the economic consequences for energy markets would be immediate.
The deal’s long-term durability is uncertain. The memorandum does not bind a future US administration, and congressional leaders in both parties have not yet publicly endorsed its terms.
What You Can Do Now
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Call your senators at (202) 224-3121 and ask them to invoke their treaty-review authority. The Constitution gives the Senate a role in binding international agreements. Ask your senator’s office whether they plan to hold hearings on the terms of the Iran memorandum before the 60-day negotiation period ends in mid-August 2026.
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Contact the Senate Foreign Relations Committee directly. The committee oversees US foreign policy agreements. Call (202) 224-4651 and ask the committee to schedule public hearings on the Iran memorandum of understanding, including testimony on Strait of Hormuz maritime fee plans and their effect on US energy costs.
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Contact your House representative at (202) 225-3121 and ask them to co-sponsor a War Powers Resolution review. The US-Israel war on Iran was conducted with significant executive branch authority. Ask your representative whether that authority was properly authorized by Congress before any peace deal was struck.
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Find your senator’s local district office at senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm and request an in-person or phone meeting to discuss the deal’s 60-day deadline. The clock is running. Local office staff log constituent contacts and report volume directly to the senator.
Sources
Guardian: Trump Signs 14-Point Iran Peace Deal at Versailles Video Report
Guardian: Vance Rebukes Israeli Critics of Iran Deal Using US Weapons Funding Argument
Foreign Policy: Vance Becomes Face of Unpopular US-Iran Peace Agreement
[Callout: 60-day negotiation window triggered by MOU signing.
Iran plans maritime fees on Strait of Hormuz after period expires. Guardian]