Washington: The US and Iran have reached a tentative agreement to extend the ceasefire in the war by 60 days, but President Donald Trump has yet to approve it, according to sources familiar with the matter.
Among the first issues to be negotiated during the 60-day window is what will happen to Iran’s highly enriched uranium, a US official said. Details of the pact were first reported by the US news outlet Axios.
Iran did not immediately confirm any deal, and the official noted that Trump has yet to sign off on it. The White House declined to comment.
The emerging memorandum of understanding came as the fragile ceasefire in the war between the US and Iran appeared to be wavering. The latest flare-up in fighting happened less than a day earlier, when Kuwait intercepted missiles fired from Iran, according to US Central Command.
The memorandum makes clear that Iran will not be able to impose tolls on the Strait of Hormuz and that Iran will have to remove all mines from the vital waterway within 30 days, according to the US official, who was not authorised to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.
The US, meanwhile, would gradually lift its naval blockade on the strait, the conduit for about a fifth of all traded oil and natural gas before the war. Its closure has sent oil prices skyrocketing, driving up fuel prices around the world.
The US would also agree to relax sanctions, allowing Iran to sell more of its oil.
A second US official, who also spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the private diplomacy, said the broad outlines of an agreement have been reached but stressed that until Trump signs off on it, there is no deal.
The Trump administration has several times said a deal to end the fighting was close, only to have Iran dispute or downplay the claims.
Trump initially said the war would last four to six weeks, but it is now three months old. At times, he has suggested the conflict could end within days, only to later suggest it could go on for some time.
Over the weekend, expectations of a deal soared when Trump cancelled his weekend plans to stay in Washington and skipped his son’s wedding, citing “circumstances pertaining to government”.
On Sunday, a senior Trump administration official downplayed an imminent deal, but said there was agreement in principle over the broad contours of a deal.
Trump has come under growing pressure from Iran hawks in his own party, who have urged him not to make any agreement that fails to immediately address Iran’s nuclear program.
Growing voter disquiet about high prices, especially for gasoline, has added to political pressure on Trump’s Republican Party, which is widely expected to struggle to keep control of the House of Representatives and possibly the Senate.
Trump has said his key aim in the war is to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon with its highly enriched uranium. Tehran has consistently denied it has plans to do that.
More to come
AP, Reuters
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