The US and Iran agree to reopen the Strait of Hormuz
The US and Iran have drawn up a framework memorandum of understanding designed to extend the ceasefire for 60 days whilst the parties attempt to agree on a final end to the war, according to the Washington Post.
At the same time, a US official stated that, as of Sunday, the agreement with Iran had not yet been signed. It is also unclear at this stage how binding the current format of the agreement is.
According to a diplomat familiar with the negotiations, the latest proposal is awaiting Iran’s approval. Once the memorandum is signed, Tehran must immediately open the Strait of Hormuz and take steps to ensure that shipping traffic returns to pre-war levels within 30 days.
The proposal also stipulates that Iran, the US and their allies will announce the immediate cessation of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon.
According to the diplomat, the document contains provisions stipulating that Iran will reaffirm its commitment not to develop nuclear weapons and agree to the disposal of its stockpiles of enriched materials under an agreed mechanism.
A senior US administration official stated that the memorandum obliges Iran not to possess nuclear weapons, in particular to abandon its stockpiles of highly enriched uranium. Over the next two months, the parties are to discuss the mechanism for this process.
At the same time, questions remain regarding the speed of implementation of certain points of the agreement.
US President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social on Sunday evening that the deal “hasn’t even been fully agreed yet” and that “nobody has seen it or knows what’s in it”.
“So don’t listen to the losers who criticise what they know nothing about,” Trump wrote, adding that he does not make “bad deals”.
Earlier that day, Trump stated that negotiations were proceeding “in an orderly and constructive manner”. According to him, he had instructed his representatives not to rush, as “time is on our side”.
“Both sides must take their time and get it right. There can be no mistakes,” he wrote.
Trump also stated that relations between the US and Iran are becoming “more professional and productive”, but Tehran must understand that it cannot develop or acquire a nuclear bomb.
An Iranian official, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated that the opening of the Strait of Hormuz would take place in stages. In the first stage, the US must unfreeze $12 billion in frozen Iranian assets, demining will begin in the strait, and the American blockade will be lifted.
According to this official, the memorandum does not contain a nuclear deal, but merely provides for a commitment to hold negotiations on the nuclear issue at a later date. He added that an announcement with further details could be made on Monday.
It is not yet known when the Strait of Hormuz will be fully operational again. The US official stated that the current US blockade would be eased in proportion to the opening of the strait, describing this approach as “trust but verify on steroids”.
He also said that Iran’s frozen assets would not be unfrozen until Tehran began to abandon highly enriched uranium.
According to the diplomat, the issues of frozen assets and sanctions will be resolved depending on how Iran complies with other provisions of the proposal.
The US official also stated that the new framework agreement should ensure a cessation of hostilities in the region between the US and its allies, as well as Iran and its proxies. At the same time, it guarantees Israel’s right to act against immediate threats.
