US President Donald Trump said a deal with Iran on the war in the Middle East, including the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, was “largely negotiated” after talks over the weekend with Israel and other allies in the region.
But other authorities recommended caution this Sunday. Secretary of State Marco Rubio noted that “there has been significant progress, although not final progress” in the negotiations.
Rubio, on a four-day visit to India for meetings with Indian, Australian and Japanese officials, said he hoped there would be good news in the coming hours.
The negotiations succeeded in meeting one of Trump’s main goals, Rubio said: “a world that no longer needs to fear or worry about an Iranian nuclear weapon.”
Trump stated on Saturday, 23, that he spoke with leaders of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan and Bahrain and, separately, with Israel.
“The final aspects and details of the agreement are currently being discussed and will be announced shortly,” Trump said on social media, without giving details.
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The announcement capped a week in which the US weighed a new round of attacks against the Islamic Republic that would break a fragile ceasefire.
The potential deal will include a commitment from Iran not to pursue a nuclear weapon, and Tehran has agreed to give up its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, according to two regional officials.
One of them, with direct knowledge of the negotiations, said that how Iran will give up highly enriched uranium will be the subject of further negotiations over a 60-day period.
It is highly likely that some of the material will be diluted, while the rest will be transferred to a third country, possibly Russia, he said.
Iran possesses 440.9 kilograms (972 pounds) of uranium enriched to up to 60% purity, a short technical step up from the 90% levels considered military grade, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency.
The Strait of Hormuz will be gradually reopened in parallel with the end of the US blockade of Iranian ports, this official said.
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The US will also allow Iran to sell its oil through sanctions waivers, said the second official briefed on the talks. Sanctions relief and the release of frozen Iranian funds will be negotiated within 60 days, she said.
The two officials said the draft agreement includes an end to the war between Israel and Hezbollah, as well as a commitment not to interfere in the internal affairs of countries in the region. They spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss closed-door deliberations.
