Washington: Both the United States and Iran have recently shown signs of progress toward reaching a deal to end their long-standing conflict, although discrepancies exist in their respective media portrayals of the agreement's terms. US President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that an agreement with Iran to end the war was "largely negotiated" and awaited finalization. Meanwhile, on Sunday, Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency reported on the potential agreement's details, highlighting some divergences.
According to Anadolu Agency, the discussions include several critical issues where US and Iranian narratives differ. One of the primary points of contention is the status of the Strait of Hormuz. A US official told Axios that Washington and Tehran are close to signing a deal that would extend a ceasefire by 60 days, during which the Strait of Hormuz would be reopened without any tolls, while Iran would remove the mines it had placed. In exchange, the US would lift its blockade on Iranian ports. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized that the strait should remain unrestricted as it's an international waterway. However, Tasnim reported that the strait would not revert to its pre-war status immediately, with the number of ships allowed to pass restored to pre-war levels within 30 days.
Another significant issue involves sanctions relief and the release of frozen Iranian assets. Iran seeks the immediate unfreezing of funds and a permanent lifting of sanctions, but the US position suggests these would only be granted after Iran made concrete concessions. The proposed 60-day agreement offers temporary sanctions waivers for Iran to sell oil, contingent upon reopening the Strait of Hormuz and removing mines. Tehran insists on the immediate release of some frozen assets and seeks broader, permanent sanctions relief.
Regarding the nuclear file, the Axios report notes the draft deal includes commitments from Iran not to pursue nuclear weapons, with provisions to negotiate uranium enrichment suspension and the removal of its highly enriched uranium stockpile. However, Iranian reports indicate Tehran has not accepted these terms and proposes a 60-day negotiation window on its nuclear program.
Both US and Iranian media suggest the ceasefire would halt fighting on all fronts, including Lebanon. This was reiterated by Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei, who stressed the priority of ending hostilities across all fronts.
The context of these discussions is a backdrop of regional tensions that have escalated since US and Israeli strikes against Iran in February, which led to Tehran's retaliatory actions. A ceasefire, initially mediated by Pakistan, was later extended indefinitely by Trump. Recent direct talks between Washington and Tehran in Islamabad have yet to yield a conclusive agreement. Pakistani army chief Asim Munir's visit to Tehran, part of ongoing mediation efforts, preceded Trump's remarks on the progress of the negotiations.