The countries have developed a memorandum of understanding “framework” as the two sides attempt to reach a final agreement to end the war.
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The United States and Iran have developed a memorandum of understanding “framework” that extends the ceasefire 60 days as the two sides reach a “final deal” to permanently end the war in Iran, but in the meantime would result in the Strait of Hormuz being demined and reopened, a senior administration official said.
The official, however, said no agreement with Iran had been signed on Sunday. It remains unclear how binding the current framework is.
A diplomat familiar with the matter, who like others for this story spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss ongoing negotiations, said the latest proposal is currently awaiting the approval of the Iranians.
Upon signing the memorandum of understanding, Iran would immediately reopen the Strait of Hormuz and take steps to ensure the traffic returns to prewar conditions within 30 days, the latest proposal stipulates, according to the diplomat. It also would see Iran, the U.S. and allies declaring that military operations on every front, including Lebanon, end immediately.
The memorandum of understanding “commits” the Iranians to not having a nuclear weapon, including “giving up the nuclear dust,” the senior U.S. administration official said, a reference to the country’s stockpiles of highly enriched uranium. Over the next two months, the two sides will discuss “the mechanism” for doing so, added the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the negotiations.
But questions remain about how quickly aspects of the new framework will be implemented.
“So don’t listen to the losers, who are critical about something they know nothing about,” the president wrote, adding that he doesn’t “make bad deals!!”
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Earlier in the day, Trump wrote that “negotiations are proceeding in an orderly and constructive manner.” He told his representatives “not to rush into a deal in that time is on our side,” he wrote.
“Both sides must take their time and get it right. There can be no mistakes!” he wrote, adding that the U.S.-Iran relationship is becoming “more professional and productive.” He said that Iran must understand that it cannot develop or procure a nuclear bomb.
An Iranian official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the opening of the Strait will be phased. In the first phase the U.S. will release $12 billion in frozen Iranian assets, minesweeping in the strait will begin, and the U.S. blockade will lift, the Iranian official said.
The Iranian official said the memorandum of understanding does not include a nuclear agreement, just a pledge to negotiate the nuclear issue later. He said an announcement with further details could come Monday.
It’s unclear when the Strait is expected to be back in use, though the senior administration official touted the new framework as a means of bringing “relief to American families at the pump.” The official said the current U.S. blockade will be “loosened proportionately” as the Strait opens, describing the arrangement as “‘trust but verify’ on steroids.”
The new framework ensures both sides — the U.S. and its allies, and Iran and its proxies — “cease fighting in the region,” the official added, while guaranteeing Israel’s right to “act against imminent threats.”
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