The United States and Iran have advanced negotiations on an interim agreement that could reopen the Strait of Hormuz, one of the most important routes for global oil transport, and pave the way for an end to the war in the Middle East.
Pakistan, which is acting as mediator in the talks, said on Saturday (13) that the two sides had agreed on a main framework for a peace agreement and that electronic signature could take place soon, followed by technical talks next week.
Despite the progress, Iran was cautious about the deadline. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei stated that it would still be necessary to wait for the exact date of signing the memorandum of understanding and indicated that it should not take place on Sunday.
“We will have to wait and see the exact date of signing the memorandum of understanding, although it should not be tomorrow,” Baghaei said, according to Iranian state media.
United States President Donald Trump had stated in a social media post that the agreement with Iran was scheduled to be signed on Sunday and that the Strait of Hormuz should be immediately “open to everyone” after signing.
Pakistan sees agreement closer
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif wrote in X that the parties are “closer to a peace agreement than ever before”. According to him, Islamabad is preparing for an electronic signature of the understanding, followed by technical discussions next week.
A North American official, however, avoided commenting on the exact moment of the signing and simply stated that it was “a great agreement” and “very advantageous”.
It is not the first time that Washington and Tehran appear close to an initial understanding to end the war, which began on February 28, after joint attacks by the United States and Israel against Iran. So far, however, previous negotiations have not materialized.
What is under negotiation
The agreement under discussion immediately focuses on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, blocked by Iran during the conflict. Before the war, around 140 ships passed through the region every day, considered one of the main oil transport routes in the world.
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According to authorities cited by Bloomberg, the proposal envisages a gradual approach. The reopening of Hormuz would come first, while Iran would receive economic benefits as it complied with US demands.
Among Washington’s objectives are preventing Tehran from developing a nuclear weapons program and only allowing the maintenance of a civilian nuclear program. The agreement also provides for the withdrawal of enriched nuclear material from the country and, if the terms are met, the relief of sanctions and the gradual reintegration of Iran into the global economy.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that Iranian sovereignty over the strait would be maintained under the proposed deal. He also said that Tehran is “closer to an understanding than ever before”, but that the signature still depends on the analysis of the terms.
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Military tension continues in Hormuz
The negotiations take place amid new episodes of tension near the Strait of Hormuz. US Central Command reported that US forces shot down Iranian drones that were believed to have targeted commercial ships near the waterway.
On Saturday, the UK Navy also reported that a vessel was hit by an unidentified projectile off the coast of Oman.
If the deal is signed, the United Kingdom and France must form a coalition to remove Iranian mines that the United States says put navigation in Hormuz at risk.
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War raised energy prices
The war in the Middle East began on February 28 and has already left thousands dead in the region, mainly in Iran and Lebanon. The conflict also reignited rivalry between Israel and Hezbollah, a group aligned with Tehran.
The crisis put pressure on global energy prices, given the risk of interruption in oil transport through the Strait of Hormuz. Still, prices fell on Friday after Trump said he had canceled plans for further attacks on Iran.
Israel remains a point of uncertainty for the agreement. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has already indicated a preference for new military actions to weaken Iranian forces. Araghchi stated that Israel is an “enemy” of the proposed agreement with the United States and is trying to sabotage it.
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Until Iran provides a definitive response, it remains unclear whether the latest moves represent a concrete step towards a more lasting peace or just another tentative agreement amid a fragile ceasefire.
Main points of the agreement:
- Nuclear program: Iran would commit not to seek a nuclear weapon and would agree to negotiate, for 60 days, the terms on nuclear enrichment. According to Bloomberg Economics, the main beneficiary would be the United States.
- Sanctions: the United States would commit to temporarily suspending sanctions and accept a gradual easing of restrictions. The main beneficiary would be Iran.
- Frozen assets: Washington would agree to release part of frozen Iranian assets. The main beneficiary would be Iran.
- Strait of Hormuz and US blockade: Iran would agree to reopen the strait without charging tolls, but under its own terms; the US, in turn, would agree to lift the blockade within 30 days. The benefit would be shared between the United States and Iran.
- Allied missiles and groups: the topic would not be included in the draft agreement. According to Bloomberg Economics, this point would benefit Iran.
- US military presence: Washington would agree to withdraw forces from close to Iran and limit its levels of military presence in the region. The main beneficiary would be Iran.
- End of war on all fronts: the US would agree to include Lebanon in the understanding, but Israel would not be part of the memorandum or negotiations. The main beneficiary would be Iran.
(With Reuters, Estadão Conteúdo and Bloomberg)
