The White House believes the United States and Iran are close to signing a “one-page memorandum of understanding” that would end the war and create the basis for more detailed negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program. About this Reports Axios quoted American officials and sources familiar with the situation.
The United States expects a response from Iran within the next 48 hours. The newspaper’s interlocutors point out that nothing has been finally agreed upon, but this is the closest to an agreement since the beginning of the war.
The memorandum stipulates a 30-day period of negotiations during which a more detailed agreement on the Strait of Hormuz, the Iranian nuclear program and US sanctions will be discussed.
The memorandum under discussion consists of 14 points, including Iran’s commitment to stop uranium enrichment, the American agreement to lift sanctions and open Iranian assets worth billions of dollars, as well as lifting restrictions on the Strait of Hormuz by both sides.
It is expected that the Iranian blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and the American blockade of Iranian ports will be lifted gradually during the negotiations, which will last 30 days. The two parties continue to discuss the duration of the moratorium on uranium enrichment by Iran. Three Axios sources say it will take at least 12 years, while another says 15 years. Tehran initially proposed a moratorium for five years, and the United States – for 20 years.
The memorandum also stipulates that Iran pledges never to seek to develop nuclear weapons or engage in activities related to their development. Tehran agrees to unscheduled inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency. The agreement also stipulates that Iran agrees to export highly enriched uranium, likely to the United States.
On the night of May 6, US President Donald Trump announced that he had decided to suspend Operation Project Freedom, during which US warships escorted commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz. Axios sources attribute this decision to progress in negotiations.