Key facts
- Iran has agreed to dismantle its nuclear program and destroy nuclear material under a tentative deal with the US.
- The reported agreement includes provisions for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
- The deal's structure involves a step-by-step approach, with Iran receiving economic rewards after meeting US demands.
- Nuclear program issues are deferred to a future 60-day negotiating period.
- President Trump denied leaked terms of the deal, stating they did not match the written agreement.
- The US and Iran appear close to a deal to end their war and open the Strait of Hormuz.
- The deal is expected to include the phased lifting of sanctions on Iran and the release of frozen Iranian assets.
The United States and Iran are reportedly nearing a deal to end their conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global energy supplies. The agreement, brokered with the help of mediators including Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, aims to address Iran's nuclear program and potentially lead to the phased lifting of sanctions and release of frozen assets.
Key to the emerging accord is Iran's agreement to dismantle its nuclear program and destroy nuclear material. However, the specifics of the nuclear program are deferred to a 60-day negotiation period following the initial agreement. A senior US official indicated that the deal would begin the process of removing Tehran's highly enriched uranium, with technical details to be worked out.
President Donald Trump has denied leaked terms of the deal, asserting they do not accurately reflect the written agreement. The deal also includes provisions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran has sought to impose tolls on passing ships, a move criticized by the US and other nations as violating international law. The conflict, which began on February 28 and has disrupted oil and natural gas shipments, has seen exchanges of fire between Iran, the US, and Israel, raising fears of a wider regional war.
Experts have expressed caution, warning that deferring critical issues like the nuclear program could result in a fragile ceasefire rather than lasting peace. Iran has also insisted that any deal must include a ceasefire in Lebanon, where Israel is engaged in conflict with Hezbollah, an Iranian proxy militia. Fighting in southern Lebanon continued on Saturday.