No Schadenfreude?

An ugly German term who made it into English dictionaries. Sometimes, “klammheimlich” is added, clandestine. Today’s G7 meeting of leading economic powers in Evian France saw European leaders again groveling before Donald Trump, the U.S. American President who had secured another victory when electronically signing a Memorandum of Understanding with America’s (and Israel’s) arch enemy, Iran.

Trump has just made sure that, possibly, the Strait of Hormuz will be open again (which was closed by Iran upon the U.S. and Israel’s unprovoked attacks on 28 February 2026), that Iran will never seek, develop, or build an atomic bomb (Iran has always pledged that it was never intended doing so, at least since its former Supreme Leader, the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, had issued an oral ruling in 2003), and that everything else will be negotiated later.

Trump’s deal in a hurry (his birthday, the 250-yr-anniversary, the football games, … all of this at once!) is a stab in the back for Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is still far from achieving his actual war aims (the destruction of Hezbollah once and for all, regime change in Iran, a Greater Israel). Trump’s relationship to the Israeli leadership is completely destroyed. The two million Palestinians in Gaza, in the rubble; nobody will ever care of them anymore. No Reviera in the Middle East.

International mainstream media have so far only raised eyebrows in great apprehension; in comments condemned, criticized or outrightly rejected the agreement while, as far as I have heard, Iranians are quite happy with the perspective. It is said, they claim, We won the War!

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While Iran is Playing Chess …

… it is not even clear whether Donald Trump is playing a game at all. I have seen some clips of yesterday’s Ultimate Fighting Championship, or UFC, event at the White House with a grim-looking President. A vulgar entertainment on his 80th birthday.

I got the impression that he had to compensate his frustration by identifying himself with the “winner” (“right in the face”) after the “deal” he has reached with Iran. A “memorandum of understanding”, MoU, of which we have not seen an official document. Various draft versions are circulated anyway. Middle East Spectator has posted the alleged three phases of the agreement on Telegram.

— 🇺🇸/🇮🇷 The Iran-U.S. Memorandum of Understanding: Full Details

Phase 1 | Upon announcement of the MoU (effective immediately):

– Upon announcement of the MoU, both sides declare an immediate, complete and permanent end to all hostilities in the region, including Lebanon.

– Upon announcement of the MoU, the United States declares the immediate and complete lifting of the U.S. naval blockade against Iran.

Phase 2 | After Signing of the MoU (30-day period):

– Upon signing the MoU, the United States confirms its commitment to non-interference in Iran’s domestic affairs and respect for the sovereignty of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

– Upon signing the MoU, the United States affirms that it will not increase the amount of troops or military assets present in the region, nor impose any new sanctions during the negotiations.

– Upon signing the MoU, Iran reaffirms its commitment to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and confirms that it will never produce, develop, or acquire a nuclear weapon.

– Upon signing the MoU, the United States declares that it will provide Iran with half of its frozen funds, amounting to a value of $12 Billion, to be made available in a non-reversible manner within 30 days, with a commitment to make the remaining half available during the subsequent 60 days.

– Upon signing the MoU, the United States will issue sanctions waivers for Iranian oil, gas, and petrochemical exports, effective immediately, with a commitment to extend these waivers permanently once a final agreement is reached.

– Upon signing the MoU, the U.S. will begin immediate consultations with Israel to present a short term timeframe for a full Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon, including points occupied following the 2024 Israel-Hezbollah agreement.

– Upon signing the MoU, Iran confirms it will reopen the Strait of Hormuz to commercial maritime traffic, according to certain specified arrangements determined by Iran, within 30 days.

Phase 3 | Negotiations on a Final Deal (60-day period + possible extension):

– The 60-day negotiating period will begin once all the terms of the MoU have been met in the previous 30 days.

– The 60-day negotiating period can be extended by mutual agreement of both parties.

– During these 60 days, the U.S. will make the remaining $12 Billion of Iran’s frozen assets available.

– During these 60 days, the U.S. will present plans for a reconstruction fund for Iran, amounting to a value of at least $300 Billion, funded partially by Gulf states.

– The U.S. and Iran will begin detailed discussions on a permanent solution to nuclear-related matters, including enrichment, the existing uranium stockpile, and the fate of the nuclear sites.

– The U.S. and Iran will begin detailed discussions regarding the lifting of all economic sanctions on Iran, including primary, secondary, U.S. and UN sanctions, as well as the withdrawal of all UN Security Council and IAEA Board of Governors resolutions against Iran.

– A monitoring mechanism will be established to supervise the implementation of a final agreement.

– The final agreement will be approved by a UN Security Council Resolution.

@Middle_East_Spectator

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Peace in Our Time

Being updated.

15 June 2026 @ 6:09 UTC+2.

Last modified June 15, 2026.

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Variations On a Theme

A Gentleman’s agreement. A Handshake agreement. A Deal. A Memorandum of Understanding. A non-binding Political Commitment. A Treaty. An Arrangement.

Consensual intercourse. Rape. “No means No.” “Yes means Yes.” Real Estate Development. Diplomacy. An honest Broker. A Mobster. A Gangster. A Bazaari. Haggling. Bargaining. Negotiating. Cheating.

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Back And Forth – “Very Dishonorable People”

After yesterday’s post about President Trump threatening Iran with hitting it very hard, his plans to take Kharg island once more, and even mentioning nukes, he abruptly backpedaled, canceled his plans and announced,

Based on the fact that discussions with the Islamic Republic of Iran have been brought to the highest level of Iranian leadership and approved, I have, as President of the United States of America, cancelled the scheduled strikes and bombings against Iran this evening. Discussions and final points have been, in both concept and great detail, approved by all parties involved, including the United States, Israel, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Turkey, Pakistan, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, Egypt, and others. The Naval Blockade will remain in full force and effect until this Transaction is finalized — Time and place of the signing to be announced shortly.

DONALD J. TRUMP
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Then Elon Musk’s SpaceX officially went public, with shares debuting on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol SPCX. It is the largest initial public offering (IPO) in Wall Street history. The successful launch made Elon Musk the first trillionaire. Hard to imagine what a new, possibly nuclear, attack on Iran would have had on Nasdaq and the global economy. Weasle-like Trump was fully aware of the fall-out (literally and metaphorically).

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