The United States confirmed this Thursday that its negotiators have reached a preliminary agreement with Iran to unblock the Strait of Hormuz and extend the ceasefire for 60 days, an understanding that still needs final approval from U.S. President Donald Trump.
Sources from the U.S. government confirmed to the press the information exclusively reported by Axios, according to which the agreement only needs the green light from the Republican leader.
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The digital newspaper cited two senior U.S. officials who revealed that the agreement stipulates that navigation through the strait, blocked by Iran in retaliation for the U.S. and Israeli offensive, will be “without restrictions.”
According to Axios, Iran will not impose any toll in the strait, key for global crude trade, and the United States will lift the maritime blockade it has imposed on ships leaving and arriving at Iranian ports.
The memorandum of understanding would include Iran’s commitment not to develop nuclear weapons, a red line for Trump, although it would leave negotiations to limit uranium enrichment by the Islamic Republic for later.
This matter would be addressed during the 60-day extension of the ceasefire in effect since last April.
Likewise, the United States commits to discussing the lifting of sanctions on Iran and the release of frozen Iranian funds.
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The United States and Iran have intensified negotiations over the past week, with Pakistan’s mediation, to end the war started by the United States and Israel last February 28.
Since last weekend, the White House has insisted that the agreement was a matter of days, although Tehran has lowered expectations that the pact was imminent.
According to Axios, the terms of the agreement were largely agreed upon on Tuesday, but both parties needed approval from their leaders.
Iran would have already communicated that it gives the green light to the agreement, but Trump did not want to approve it immediately, the outlet pointed out.
The possibility that the nuclear issue will be left for a later phase has caused rejection from several Republican senators allied with Trump who have criticized the concessions the United States is willing to make.
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