US President Donald Trump said a deal with Iran on the war in the Middle East, including opening the Strait of Hormuz, has been “largely negotiated” after calls with Israel and other allies in the region over the weekend.
But other officials counseled caution yesterday, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio noting that “significant progress, although not final progress has been made” in the negotiations.
Rubio, on a visit to India for meetings with Indian, Australian and Japanese officials, said he hoped that there would be good news soon.
Photo: Reuters
The negotiations have succeeded in one of Trump’s main aims, Rubio said, “that is a world that no longer has to be in fear or worry about an Iranian nuclear weapon.”
Trump said on Saturday he had spoken with leaders from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan and Bahrain and separately with Israel.
“Final aspects and details of the Deal are currently being discussed, and will be announced shortly,” Trump said on social media, without amplification.
The announcement ended a week in which the US weighed a new round of attacks on Iran that would break a fragile ceasefire.
The potential deal would include Iran’s commitment that it would not pursue a nuclear weapon and Tehran agreed to give up its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, according to two regional officials.
One official, with direct knowledge of the negotiations, said how Iran would give up its highly enriched uranium would be negotiated over the course of a 60-day period.
It is likely that a part of the amount would be diluted, while the rest would be transferred to a third country, potentially Russia, he said.
Iran has 440.9kg of uranium that is enriched up to 60 percent purity, a short, technical step from weapons-grade levels of 90 percent, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency.
The Strait of Hormuz would be opened in parallel with the US ending its blockade of Iran’s ports, said the official.
The US would allow Iran to sell its oil through sanctions waivers, said an official who has been briefed on the negotiations. Sanctions relief and release of Iran’s frozen funds would be negotiated during the 60-day time frame, he said.
Both officials said the draft deal includes an end of the war between Israel and Hezbollah, as well as a commitment of not interfering in the domestic affairs of countries in the region. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss closed-door deliberations.
Twelve weeks have passed since the US and Israel attacked Iran on Feb. 28, killing top Iranian officials, including its supreme leader, and interrupting nuclear talks between the US and Iran for the second time in less than a year. Iran fired at Israel and at neighbors hosting US forces, shaking Gulf nations that considered themselves safe havens in a tough region.
A ceasefire has held since April 7. However, Iran’s decision to effectively close the Strait of Hormuz for ships carrying regional oil, natural gas and other cargo has brought global concern and economic pain.
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