The New Iran–U.S. MOU vs. the 2015 Iran Nuclear Deal
Since the announcement of the U.S./Iran Memorandum of Understanding, which was signed last week by both parties, I have done research and had many conversations with people, including a career army officer who worked with Colin Powell and has many contacts in the Pentagon. Nothing I have read or heard has convinced me the U.S. is better off today than we were February 27, 2026, the day before the start of the current conflict. I am also convinced that the current negotiations will be hard pressed to be a better deal than the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) of 2015, in which the U.S., China, Russia, United Kingdom, France, Germany and the European Union were all in on curtailing Iran’s nuclear capability
President Trump withdrew from the JCPOA in 2018, saying “The fact is this was a horrible, one-sided deal that should have never, ever been made. It didn’t bring calm, it didn’t bring peace, and it never will….The agreement was so poorly negotiated that even if Iran fully complies, the regime can still be on the verge of a nuclear breakout in just a short period of time.” This is my Quote of the Day.
Since the U.S. withdraw from the agreement in 2018, Iran has gone all in on increasing its military might and enhancing it nuclear capability. In June of 2025, President Trump said the U.S. had buried Iran’s uranium under piles of rubble as a result of the combined U.S./Israel attack. On February 28, 2026, President Trump again attacked Iran seeking to destroy their nuclear capability. Iran responded by closing the Strait of Hormuz and the world economy suffered. Which leads to our current situation.
With the help of Chat GPT, I have created the following chart comparing the new MOU and the 2015 Iran Nuclear Deal. That comparison is useful, but we must accept that it is temporary and current negotiations will lead to changes in any final agreement. Thus, it is important to recognize one key difference: the new agreement is an interim de-escalation framework, while the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, known as the JCPOA, was a detailed multilateral nuclear agreement.
Point-by-Point Comparison
Parties involved
MOU: Primarily the United States and Iran, with mediation by countries such as Pakistan and Qatar.
JCPOA: Iran, the United States, China, Russia, United Kingdom, France, Germany, and the European Union.
Purpose
MOU: To stop current hostilities, reopen the Strait of Hormuz, reduce regional tensions, and create a 60-day window for broader negotiations.
JCPOA: To limit Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief.
Scope
MOU: Broader regional security: ceasefire, sanctions, shipping through Hormuz, frozen assets, and future nuclear talks.
JCPOA: Narrower but much more detailed: uranium enrichment, centrifuges, inspections, plutonium, and sanctions relief.
Duration
MOU: Interim framework, reportedly built around a 60-day negotiating period.
JCPOA: Long-term agreement with phased restrictions lasting 10 to 15 years, depending on the provision.
Nuclear restrictions
MOU: Iran reportedly reaffirms it will not seek nuclear weapons, but many technical details are left for future talks.
JCPOA: Iran accepted specific limits: enrichment capped at 3.67%, uranium stockpile capped at 300 kg, and centrifuge numbers sharply reduced.
Inspections
MOU: Iran has reportedly agreed to allow IAEA inspectors to return, but the full scope remains uncertain.
JCPOA: Detailed IAEA monitoring and verification system was central to the agreement.
Sanctions relief
MOU: Immediate or temporary relief appears focused on oil sales, frozen assets, and related transactions.
JCPOA: Broad nuclear-related sanctions relief from the U.S., EU, and UN, tied to Iranian compliance.
Military issues
MOU: Central to the MOU, including ceasefire terms, Lebanon, Hormuz, and non-use of force.
JCPOA: Not primarily a ceasefire or military agreement.
Legal strength
MOU: Appears to be a political memorandum and interim framework.
JCPOA: Endorsed by UN Security Council Resolution 2231.
Enforcement
MOU: Still unclear. Much depends on follow-up negotiations.
JCPOA: Included a “snapback” mechanism to restore UN sanctions if Iran violated the deal.
My View
The new MOU is not really a replacement for the 2015 nuclear deal. It is a pause: stop the shooting, reopen the waterway, ease oil pressure, and get both sides back to the table.
The 2015 agreement was imperfect, but it was much more detailed, international, and enforceable. If the new MOU prevents war and leads to a serious final agreement, it will be an important agreement.
I hope the next agreement is as least as good as the 2015 JCPOA is as it relates to Iran’s nuclear abilities. I hope the next agreement can provide stability in the region, including the controlling of the hostilities between Iran backed organizations and Israel. However, I am not optimistic they will be accomplished.
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No place for women
I grew up in a family where church was an integral part of our weekly activities. Because my parents were so active in the church’s activities, I saw the good and bad of church activities. As a parent I made sure Katy and Chris were also raised in an environment that included church. Since they moved on to become adults, I have found my faith has gotten stronger, but I have grown to become disgusted with organized religion. I no longer need church to reinforce my faith in God. My faith is where it should be, in my heart and hopefully in my actions.
The following article which appeared in the NY Times, reinforces by disgust with organized religion. Throughout my life I have been surrounded by strong women, who are second to no one, including every man they encounter throughout their daily lives. Yet, we have the Catholic Church, the Southern Baptist Convention, and a whole bunch of other organized “churches” who think women are subservient to men. It irritates the hell out of me when read an article such as the following.
Per the NY Times. The Southern Baptist Convention moved on Wednesday to strengthen its prohibition on women as church leaders and preachers, voting decisively to add language to its constitution clarifying that its churches do not “affirm, appoint or endorse” women as pastors.
“This will allow the Southern Baptist Convention to move forward in unity and truth,” R. Albert Mohler Jr., who proposed the change, said from the floor of the group’s annual convention on Wednesday morning.
The motion passed easily, with 75 percent of some 8,000 votes. It must pass again next year, again with a two-thirds majority, in order to enter the denomination’s constitution.
“We can hardly turn to the right or the left without finding confusion about gender,” Colin Smothers, a pastor from Kansas, said from the floor before the vote.
“What better way to express our countercultural commitment to the goodness of God’s word than to affirm God’s creation order related to the office of pastor?” added Mr. Smothers, who is the executive director of an organization that advocates distinct roles for men and women.
Colin Smothers gets my Onion of the Day
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Quick Thoughts
The reflecting pool in Washington D.C. is metaphor of the Trump presidency. Blame prior Democratic presidents for the terrible condition of the reflecting pool. Tell everyone that you are going to make it more beautiful than ever. Hire inexperienced supporters with a no-bid contract to restore its beauty. Prematurely announce how great it looks. Have everything go wrong. Blame everyone else for the problem, including unverified left/woke vandals that only you know about. Announce that you are going to need more money to fix the problem that didn’t exist before you got involved.
The hiring of the University of Michigan’s men’s head basketball coach, Dusty May, by the Dallas Mavericks of the NBA is a sign of the times. If players can change schools every year in college sports, we would be fools to think current university coaches won’t do the same.
The Michigan men’s basketball team was represented very well in the NBA draft last night as Morez Johnson, Yaxel Lendeborg, and Aday Mara were drafted in the first round. Johnson was the 9th pick, Lendeborg the 11th, and Mara the 12th. Is it any wonder Michigan won the national championship?
The American League is so bad this year, the Tigers going into tonight’s game, are 34-45 yet they are only 7 games behind the first place White Sox in the Central Division and only 5 games behind for the last wild card position. With over 80 games left in the season, anything can happen.
The US Senate approved a war powers resolution preventing Donald Trump from continuing hostilities against Iran, delivering the president a significant but symbolic rebuke over a conflict that has proven unpopular with the American public. It was passed by the House last month. Whether Trump complies is another story. Regardless, the Senate gets my Orchid of the Day.
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Contact your Congressperson
Contact your congressman by following these easy steps This can be done in a few easy steps
Step 1: find your congressman by clicking on this link, Find Your Representative | house.gov
Step 2: Put your zip code in the proper space.
Step 3: Click the button “find your representative””
Step 4: In the new page that comes up you will see a picture of your congressman. Click on your congressman’s name under the picture.
Step 5: In the new page that comes up, Click on Contact Me at the top of the page and then click on Email me.
Step 6: Fill out the information as required.
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Quote of the Day: “The fact is this was a horrible, one-sided deal that should have never, ever been made. It didn’t bring calm, it didn’t bring peace, and it never will….The agreement was so poorly negotiated that even if Iran fully complies, the regime can still be on the verge of a nuclear breakout in just a short period of time.” President Trump in 2018 about the JCPOA.
Orchid of the Day: The U.S. Senate. See above
Onion of the Day: Colin Smothers. See above.
Question of the Day: Do you think the final outcome of the current negotiations with Iran, will make us safer than we were after the signing of the 2015 JCPOA?
Lyrics of the Day: ‘Cause even when I dream of you (even when I dream)
The sweetest dream would never do
I’d still miss you, baby
Lyrics of the Day for June 17, 2026. Try by Pink
Video of the Day: Jimmy Kimmel on the MOU
https://www.facebook.com/reel/984039717771750
Tom, I think that the charade of current negotiations with Iran will do nothing to keep the US and its interests safe. The MOU is just a cover to for the US to leave the Straits without securing anything from Iran. I doubt the US will get any concession’s on the nuclear issue, ballistic missiles, protections for gulf states, nor free passage through the Straits of Hormuz. This is a mess of Trump’s making it’s going to be fascinating how he spins the next steps.
Spot on, as usual, Mr. Biggs. Particularly appreciated your observations on organized religion. With the regressive, gender-insecure, and emotionally-stunted males still dominating such huge swathes of organized religion, it explains how the USA voting populace could actually elect...and prefer to keep...someone as despicable as Donald Trump. And that's not even mentioning the ridiculous other characters who've risen politically throughout the southern states on the coattails of the religious right. SMH.