According to US President Donald Trump, a framework agreement in the negotiations to end the Iran war has now been “largely” negotiated.
According to President Donald Trump, the United States is close to a framework agreement with Tehran and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz in efforts to end the Iran war. It was “largely” negotiated, Trump wrote on the Truth Social platform. The final aspects and details of the agreement are currently being discussed and should be announced shortly. Part of the agreement includes, among other things, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. However, Trump restricted the fact that the whole thing was still subject to final completion by the USA, Iran and other countries.
Trump previously held talks with representatives of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan and Bahrain. He also spoke separately on the phone with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif later congratulated Trump on X on his “extraordinary efforts for peace.”
Iran insists on control of the Strait of Hormuz
However, immediately after Trump’s announcement, Iran emphasized that it would continue to maintain control over the strategically important strait. The shipping passage, which is important for global oil and gas trade, will “remain under full Iranian administration and sovereignty” even in the event of an agreement with the USA, an Iranian military spokesman wrote on Platform X.
The Iranian Fars news agency also contradicted Trump’s claim that the Strait of Hormuz would return to its pre-war state. Iran has agreed to increase the number of ships passing through the country back to pre-war levels. However, this does not mean a return to “free passage” as before the war. The management of the strait and the issuing of permits continue to be carried out by the Islamic Republic of Iran. Trump’s portrayal is therefore “incomplete and does not correspond to reality,” wrote Fars.
Iran’s armed forces took control of the Strait of Hormuz shortly after the start of the war. Threats and attacks on ships largely brought traffic to a standstill, causing global energy prices to rise significantly. Tehran continues to emphasize that the strait is not blocked. In reality, however, shipping companies have to coordinate with Iranian contact points and pay high fees.
14-point memorandum as a first step
Trump initially did not provide any further information about the specific content of the planned agreement. The US news portal “Axios” reported, citing a US official, that the draft memorandum of understanding currently provides for a 60-day extension of the ceasefire. During this time, the Strait of Hormuz would be accessible free of charge. Iran would also undertake to clear the mines laid there.
In return, the US would lift its blockade of Iranian ports and grant some sanctions exemptions to allow Iran to export oil freely, it said. The draft memorandum of understanding also includes Iran’s commitment never to seek nuclear weapons and to negotiate the suspension of its uranium enrichment program and the removal of its stockpile of highly enriched uranium. The US would in turn agree to negotiate the lifting of sanctions and the release of Iranian assets during the 60-day period.
Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Ismail Baghai also said on state television that they were in the final phase of drafting a 14-point memorandum. The focus would be on ending the war, the Strait of Hormuz and the fundamental release of blocked Iranian assets abroad. Further details are expected to be negotiated within the next 30 to 60 days, including the future of Iran’s nuclear program and the technical process for lifting sanctions against Iran.
The nuclear issue remains the biggest point of contention
However, the nuclear issue remains the biggest point of contention. Washington is therefore calling for a long-term suspension of Iran’s nuclear program and the handover of highly enriched uranium to the USA. Iran has so far rejected these conditions. According to Axios, these steps would only take place as part of a final agreement. The US armed forces would only then withdraw. The draft also makes it clear that the war between Israel and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia in Lebanon would end, it said.
It is possible that the agreement will not even last the full 60 days if the US is convinced that Iran is not serious about nuclear negotiations, the US official was quoted as saying.
Criticism of a possible Iran agreement is growing
A possible agreement is also met with criticism in the USA. Republican Senator Ted Cruz warned on
Dan Shapiro, former US ambassador to Israel and adviser on the Iran negotiations, told the Wall Street Journal: “Trump must choose between the uncertainty of escalation and the certainty of being criticized for a weak agreement.” “Nobody knows what he will choose.” According to the official quoted by Axios, the White House hopes that the final differences will be resolved in the next few hours and that an agreement can be announced later today.
Middle East expert Thomas Juneau from the University of Ottawa explained on At the same time, Iran’s Foreign Office spokesman Baghai dampened expectations of a quick breakthrough. An agreement could be “both very close and very distant”. The USA took contradictory positions several times during the talks. Nevertheless, he spoke of a “convergence of viewpoints.”
According to the presidential office in Tehran, Iran’s President Massoud Peseschkian was also fundamentally open to a diplomatic solution, but emphasized his country’s deep mistrust of Washington. “We are still willing to talk, but the experiences from past negotiations with the USA force us to be extremely cautious,” said Peseschkian.
Israel initially did not respond publicly
The USA and Israel attacked Iran on February 28th. There has been a ceasefire since the beginning of April, which was most recently extended unilaterally by Trump. Israel did not initially respond officially to Trump’s latest announcement. Israeli Iran expert Danny Citrinowicz wrote on Netanyahu was convinced that more military strength would either force Iran into submission or destabilize the leadership. “Instead, the result is a more radicalized, resilient and dangerous Iran that even Washington is now reluctant to confront militarily again.”
WASHINGTON/TEHRAN (dpa-AFX)