The United States and Iran seek to finalize an agreement to end the war

Donald Trump on Sunday tempered hopes of an imminent agreement with Iran to permanently end the war in the Middle East, despite signs of progress on both sides.

“I asked my representatives not to rush to conclude an agreement, because time is on our side,” wrote the American president on his Truth Social platform, also warning that the blockade imposed by his country on Iranian ports would remain in force “until an agreement is concluded, certified and signed”.

A few hours earlier, its Secretary of State Marco Rubio had nevertheless mentioned the possibility “in the coming hours” of seeing the world receive “good news”, almost three months after the start of the conflict which left thousands dead, especially in Iran and Lebanon.

A ceasefire has been in force since April 8 between Iran and the United States, but the world economy continues to be shaken by the virtual blockage of the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

Mr. Trump had previously mentioned a “widely negotiated” compromise which would provide for the reopening of Hormuz, de facto blocked by Tehran since the start of the war triggered on February 28 by an attack American-Israeli on Iran.

According to American media, this agreement would allow ships to once again pass through Hormuz, a passage through which a fifth of the hydrocarbons consumed in the world before the conflict transited.

Iranian sources familiar with the negotiations, cited by the Fars news agency, affirm that the agreement does provide for an unblocking of the Strait but that the latter would remain controlled by Iran.

– Quid du nucléaire? –

According to CBS News, citing sources close to the discussions, the latest proposal would also include unfreezing certain Iranian assets in banks abroad and continuing negotiations for another 30 days.

According to an “informed source” cited by the Tasnim news agency, Iran stressed that there would be no agreement unless part of its frozen assets were released at the first stage and a clear mechanism was established to guarantee the release of other blocked funds.

According to her, if no final agreement has yet been found, it is in particular because of the disagreements on this issue.

Fars reports that sanctions targeting oil, gas and other petrochemical products would also be lifted while negotiations continue to allow Iran to export these products, which are essential for its economy.

The agreement discussed, however, does not seem to resolve the nuclear issue.

The spokesperson for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Esmaïl Baghaï, suggested on Saturday that this subject was not part “at this stage” of the agreement under discussion and that it would be addressed during “separate discussions”.

But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that he agreed with Mr. Trump that any final agreement with Iran must “entirely eliminate the nuclear threat”, according to a press release after a telephone interview on Saturday evening between the two allies.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, mediator in these negotiations, fueled the scenario on Sunday of a resolution of the conflict in several stages, declaring that he hoped to “welcome the next negotiation session very soon”.

A first unsuccessful session of talks was held in Islamabad on April 11.

– “Right to defend oneself” –

American media have noted divergent strategies between MM. Trump and Netanyahu, the former pushing for a diplomatic solution while the latter would like to resume fighting.

The Iranian army maintained a belligerent tone on Sunday. “We are in a state of war and all our armed forces are fully prepared (…) to confront any enemy,” declared the head of the armed forces command, Ali Abdollahi, during a rare public appearance in Tehran’s main mosque, according to the Tasnim agency.

The apparent rapprochement of the belligerents came after weeks of blockades and threats.

On the Lebanese front, the Israeli army called on Sunday for the evacuation of around ten villages in the south and east of Lebanon, before new strikes planned against pro-Iranian Hezbollah, despite the current truce.

Eleven people, including six women and a child, were killed on Saturday in an Israeli strike in the south of the country, according to the Health Ministry.

Mr. Netanyahu said on Sunday that Donald Trump had, during his telephone call, reiterated Israel’s “right” to defend itself on all fronts, particularly in Lebanon.

bur/tq/vl