US Vice President JD Vance has suggested that the delay in releasing the full text of the peace agreement between the United States and Iran, known as the “Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding”, may have stemmed from differences in media freedoms in the countries involved in mediating the deal.
His comments came shortly after Washington and Tehran formally signed the agreement on Wednesday, bringing an end to more than 100 days of conflict in West Asia.
Questions over the delayed publication of the agreement
Pakistan and Qatar played key roles in facilitating talks between the two sides.
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was among the first leaders to publicly announce that the United States and Iran had agreed to a ceasefire, referring to the framework as the “Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding” in a social media post earlier this week.
According to a Bloomberg report, discussions with Pakistani officials, combined with separate backchannel engagement involving Qatari representatives, helped the US administration gain a better understanding of Iran’s political landscape and advance negotiations.
The report added that Qatar’s intervention at a crucial stage helped secure the temporary agreement.
Despite the announcement, questions remained after the complete text of the 14-point memorandum was not released immediately.
Vance points to differences in press freedom
Speaking on The New York Times podcast Interesting Times with Ross Douthat, Vance said differing expectations around transparency may have contributed to the delay.
When asked what the agreement achieved that could not have been secured without months of conflict, Vance responded by stressing the importance of making the document public.
“We actually want to get the text out because it’s difficult to have a meaningful discussion without people being able to read it,” he said.
Vance added that countries involved in the mediation process do not necessarily operate under the same expectations regarding public disclosure.
“I think part of the disconnect is that in the Pakistani and Qatari systems, they don’t really have the First Amendment and freedom of the press in the same way. There isn’t always the expectation that the text will immediately be available for the public to scrutinise, analyse and debate,” he said.
The First Amendment to the US Constitution protects several fundamental freedoms, including freedom of speech, religion, the press, assembly and the right to petition the government.
Vance went on to outline key elements of the agreement, noting that it would lead to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and that Iranian forces had ceased military operations the previous day, describing the development as a significant step forward.
What the agreement includes
The interim understanding between Washington and Tehran is designed to halt hostilities, restore navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and restart negotiations over Iran’s nuclear programme.
The arrangement also allows Iran to resume unrestricted oil exports, providing an immediate economic benefit to Tehran.
Beyond that, analysts note that both countries have effectively returned to a position similar to where they stood before the conflict escalated following military action by Israel and the United States earlier this year.
The next phase of diplomacy is expected to begin on Saturday, when US envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi meet in Switzerland for a 60-day round of negotiations aimed at reaching a broader agreement.
