Iran and the U.S. are close to reaching an agreement aimed at ending the war and ending the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program, Axios reported on Wednesday.
According to the report, the Trump administration and the Iranian leadership are now closer to an agreement than at any point since the outbreak of the war, with discussions reportedly centered around signing a one-page memorandum of understanding that would formally define the end of the military confrontation.
Senior officials in Washington said that the memorandum contains 14 clauses that would launch a 30-day negotiation period toward a detailed permanent agreement, expected to take place in either Islamabad or Geneva.
The U.S. is reportedly expecting Tehran’s response within the next two days regarding the key points of the draft. The report added that this diplomatic progress was what led President Donald Trump to suspend the planned military operation in the Strait of Hormuz.
The emerging understandings between the two sides reportedly include the following:
• Iran would freeze uranium enrichment for a period of 12 to 15 years, with the U.S. seeking the option to extend the period in the event of violations.
• After the freeze period, Iran would only be permitted to enrich uranium up to 3.67%, without the ability to stockpile it.
• Tehran would commit to never developing nuclear weapons or operating underground nuclear facilities.
• A stricter inspection regime would be implemented, including snap inspections by U.N. inspectors at Iranian facilities.
• Iran would agree to remove its highly enriched uranium stockpile from the country.
• The United States would gradually lift sanctions and release tens of billions of dollars in frozen Iranian funds.
• Both sides would remove the blockade and shipping restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz during the 30-day negotiation period.
Officials at the White House stressed that many of the memorandum’s terms are conditional on reaching a final agreement, leaving open the possibility of renewed military operations if negotiations collapse.
A senior US official said that “if the negotiations fall apart, U.S. forces could reimpose the blockade or resume military operations.”
Despite the optimism, Trump administration officials reportedly remain skeptical about whether the various competing factions within Iran’s divided leadership will be able to reach an internal consensus.
(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)
