Cairo — US President Donald Trump said that the agreement with Iran will continue War The Middle East, including the opening of the Strait of Hormuz, was “largely negotiated” after calls with Israel and other allies in the region over the weekend.
But other officials advised caution on Sunday, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio noting that “significant progress, although not definitive progress” had been made in the negotiations.
Rubio, who is on a four-day visit to India to hold meetings with Indian, Australian and Japanese officials, said he hoped there would be good news in the coming hours.
Rubio said that the negotiations succeeded in achieving one of Trump’s main goals: “This is a world that no longer needs to fear or worry about the Iranian nuclear weapon.”
Trump said on Saturday that he spoke with the leaders of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Bahrain, and separately with Israel.
Trump said on social media: “The final aspects and details of the deal are currently being discussed, and will be announced soon,” without any details.
The announcement capped a week in which the United States weighed a new round of… Attacks on the Islamic Republic That would violate the fragile ceasefire.
The potential agreement would include Iran’s commitment not to seek a nuclear weapon, and Tehran agreeing to give up its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, according to regional officials.
How Iran gives up highly enriched uranium is a topic for further negotiations over a 60-day period, said one of the officials with direct knowledge of the negotiations.
He added that it is very likely that part of the amount will be diluted, while the rest will be transferred to a third country, perhaps Russia.
Iran has 440.9 kilograms (972 pounds) of uranium enriched to 60% purity, a short technical step from weapons-grade levels of 90%, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency.
The official said that the Strait of Hormuz will be gradually opened in parallel with the United States ending its blockade of Iranian ports.
The second official briefed on the negotiations said the United States would also allow Iran to sell its oil through sanctions waivers. He added that sanctions relief and the release of Iran’s frozen funds will be negotiated within the 60-day time frame.
The two officials said that the draft agreement includes ending the war between Israel and Hezbollah, as well as a commitment not to interfere in the internal affairs of countries in the region. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the closed deliberations.
It has been 12 weeks since the US and Israel attacked Iran on February 28, killing top Iranian officials. Including its commander-in-chief Nuclear talks between the United States and Iran were halted for the second time in less than a year. Iran opened fire on Israel and on its neighbors hosting US forces, shaking Gulf states that had viewed themselves as safe havens in a difficult region.
The ceasefire has held since April 7. But Iran’s decision to effectively close the Strait of Hormuz to ships carrying regional oil, natural gas and other vital supplies has been a focal point of global anxiety and economic pain.
Israeli officials are concerned that Hezbollah, the Lebanese armed group allied with Iran, continues to pose a serious threat to Israel and that Lebanon is ill-equipped to disarm.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Trump that Israel “maintains freedom of action against threats in all arenas, including Lebanon,” according to an official familiar with the conversation. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.
The official said that Trump made clear to Netanyahu that he would not sign any final agreement without the requirement that Iran completely dismantle its nuclear program and remove all enriched uranium from the country.
Israeli Science and Technology Minister Gila Gamliel, a member of Netanyahu’s Likud party and a member of the National Security Cabinet, told Israel Army Radio on Sunday morning that Israel was taking a “wait and see” approach.
there is fragile, US-brokered ceasefire In the war between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon since April 17, a conflict that began two days after the start of the war with Iran.
Despite the ceasefire, shooting continues from both sides. Hezbollah launches daily drones and projectiles towards Israeli soldiers and northern Israel, and Israel strikes targets in Lebanon while its forces remain in large areas of southern Lebanon.
More than 3000 people They were killed in the last round of fighting, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health. In addition, 22 Israeli soldiers and a defense contractor were killed in or near southern Lebanon, and two civilians were killed in northern Israel, most of them by Hezbollah drones, according to Netanyahu’s office.
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Liedman reported from Tel Aviv, Israel. Associated Press writers Sheikh Saliq in New Delhi and Munir Ahmed in Islamabad contributed to this report.