There is much about the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding between the U.S. and Iran that represents a significant reversal in President Donald Trump’s long-held positions. But none of the changes in U.S. priorities is more dramatic than the one dealing with the aspirations of the Iranian people. The document, signed last week, simply ignores the promises Trump had made to them months earlier.
In the memorandum, Trump makes concessions that would have been unimaginable until recently. Most notably, it gives Iran significant economic benefits—including sanctions waivers that will allow it to sell oil on international markets—and does not preclude it from eventually controlling navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
But when it comes to democracy and human rights, the document is completely silent.