While Washington rustled “incessant rumors†and was counting on“important†announcements on the Iranian issue during the weekend, “the United States has hinted it is nearing a deal that could extend the current ceasefire with Iranâ€reports The Country.
Saturday evening, Donald Trump “was very optimistic about the negotiations, which he considers promising and which will notably address one of the most important points for the West due to its impact on oil prices: the reopening of the Strait of Hormuzâ€adds the Madrid daily.
“An agreement has been extensively negotiated, subject to finalization, between the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iranâ€wrote the American president on his Truth Social network, specifying that he had spoken by telephone with numerous leaders of the Gulf countries, as well as with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“Final aspects and details of the agreement are currently being discussed and will be announced shortly…added the tenant of the White House. “Among the many elements of the agreement, the Strait of Hormuz will be reopenedâ€.
Uranium enrichi
The diplomatic ballet accelerated on Friday, while several Pakistani and Qatari officials – mediators of the conflict – went to Tehran to try to relaunch negotiations between belligerents. Donald Trump, for his part, decided to stay at the White House during the weekend to devote himself to the file.
On condition of anonymity, an American official told Axios that the agreement provided for “a 60-day extension of the ceasefire, during which the Strait of Hormuz would be reopened, Iran would be able to freely sell its oil and negotiations would be conducted on the supervision of the Iranian nuclear programâ€.
According to the online media, “this agreement would prevent an escalation of the conflict and ease pressure on global oil supplies. However, it is still unclear whether it will lead to a lasting peace agreement that also meets President Trump’s nuclear demands….
According to The New York Times, “one of the other key elements of the proposed deal between Iran and the United States is an apparent commitment by Tehran to give up its stockpile of highly enriched uraniumâ€and “long-time goal†de Washington.
The agreement could still “fall apart”
Donald Trump and the mediators hope to be able to announce the agreement as early as Sunday, “although it has not yet been finalized and could still fail…however, warns Axios.
In fact, for once, Iran is noticeably less enthusiastic than Donald Trump.
The spokesperson for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs declared on state television that “American and Iranian positions had converged over the past weekâ€but warned that “this did not mean that agreements would be reached on the key issuesâ€also accusing the Americans of holding “contradictory statementsâ€reports the BBC.
And the situation in the Strait of Hormuz seems more nuanced than the White House tenant suggests.
“Donald Trump said the status of the Strait would return to pre-war status†but according to Al-Jazeeraciting the agency Farsclose to the Revolutionary Guards, “this does not reflect what both parties agreed toâ€.
According to Fars, “Iran would maintain its control over the Strait of Hormuz, at least during the ceasefire period, until the conclusion of negotiationsâ€.
The Qatari channel recalls that the Strait of Hormuz constitutes “Iran’s main pressure lever†et qu’à Téhéran, “many consider it to be the “nuclear bomb†of the country – its greatest deterrent force – and, therefore, are not prepared to give it up easily….
