According to an American official who spoke to , the agreement that the and the is ready to be signed and provides for an extension of the truce for 60 days, during which they will reopen the . At the same time, Tehran will be able to sell oil freely and negotiations will be held to limit its nuclear program.
The agreement at this stage of the war can prevent its escalation and will reduce the pressure on the global oil supply. However, it is unclear whether it will lead to a lasting peace agreement that . Both the US president and negotiators have said the deal could be announced on Sunday, although it has not yet been finalized and there is still the possibility that it could be scrapped.
The US official provided a detailed description of the plan as it has taken shape so far, much of which was confirmed by other sources close to the negotiations. It is worth noting that these details have not been confirmed by the Iranian side, although Tehran has also stated that the negotiations are close to an agreement.
What does the deal between Iran and the US include?
Both sides will sign a 60-day memorandum of understanding (MOU), which can be extended by mutual agreement.
- During this time, the Strait of Hormuz will remain open without tolls, while Iran will agree to remove mines laid there to allow free passage for ships.
- In return, the US will lift the embargo on Iranian ports and issue some sanctions waivers to allow Tehran to sell oil freely.
- The US official acknowledged that this would be beneficial to the Iranian economy, but noted that it would also give .
The US official stressed that the sooner the Iranians remove the mines and allow shipping to resume, the sooner the blockade will be lifted.
- The same source pointed out that Donald Trump’s guiding principle for the deal is “relief over performance.”
- Iran wanted an immediate release of the funds and permanent relief from sanctions, but the US side said that would happen only after certain concessions, according to the US official.
What are the important points of the agreement?
Tehran’s nuclear program
The draft memorandum of understanding includes commitments by Iran never to pursue nuclear weapons, but also to negotiate a suspension of its uranium enrichment program and the removal of its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, the US official said.
- According to two sources with knowledge of the matter, Tehran has given Washington, through mediators, verbal commitments on the range of concessions it is willing to make in terms of halting enrichment and handing over nuclear material.
- The U.S. would agree to negotiate the lifting of sanctions and the unfreezing of Iranian funds during the 60-day period — though those measures would only be implemented as part of a final, mutually agreed-upon deal.
- American forces mobilized in recent months will remain in the region during the truce and will only withdraw if a final agreement is reached.
The war in Lebanon
An important point of the draft agreement is the fact that it is made clear that the war between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon will end.
- Benjamin Netanyahu expressed concern about the term during a phone call with Donald Trump on Saturday, according to an Israeli official. The Israeli prime minister also raised concerns about other aspects of the deal, but presented his arguments respectfully and politely, according to the US official.
- The US official said it was not a “unilateral ceasefire” and that if Hezbollah tried to rearm or instigate attacks, Israel would have the right to take action to prevent it. “If Hezbollah behaves properly, Israel will behave properly,” he characteristically commented.
- “Bibi has his domestic priorities, but Trump needs to consider the interests of the US and the global economy,” the US official added.
How did the US and Iran get one step closer to the truce?
on the deal during a conference call Saturday, and all said they supported it, according to three sources with knowledge of the discussion.
- According to the US official, among them was the hard-line president of the United Arab Emirates, Mohammed bin Zayed. Also participating in the discussion were the leaders of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, Turkey and Pakistan, all of whom have been involved in mediation efforts.
- It is recalled that , led by Marshal Asim Munir, who was in Tehran on Friday and Saturday in an effort to complete the agreement.
- For the last 24 hours, the American president has been trying to go against Iran. By Saturday night, he was leaning toward a diplomatic solution.
The White House is hopeful that the latest differences will be resolved within the next few hours and that the deal will be announced within the day, the US official said.
- The official said it’s possible the deal won’t even last 60 days if the U.S. judges Iran is not serious about the nuclear negotiations. On the other hand, Washington believes that the economic crisis facing Tehran is an incentive to reach a full agreement, which could “give” a breather after the lifting of sanctions and the unfreezing of its funds.
- “It will be interesting to see how far Iran is really willing to go, but whether it is capable and willing to change course. This next phase will force it to make some critical decisions about what it wants to be as a country,” the US official stressed.
- If Donald Trump’s demands on Iran’s nuclear program are met, the president is ready to go to great lengths to redefine the relationship between the US and Iran, as well as give it the opportunity to fully exploit its economic potential, which the US president considers “enormous”, according to his advisers.
