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The United States and Iran could reach an agreement today to end the war in the Middle East. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed this, while Tehran insisted that the agreement will not limit its nuclear program. Washington and Tehran have been observing a ceasefire since April 8 as mediators work on a negotiated solution. Meanwhile, Iran maintains controls on naval traffic in the Gulf and the United States continues its blockade of Iranian ports. During a visit to India, Rubio told reporters: “I think maybe in the next few hours the world could get some good news.”
Trump and Rubio’s statements on nuclear power
The words of the head of American diplomacy came after American President Donald Trump had written on social media that the agreement “was largely negotiated, subject to finalization between the United States of America, the Islamic Republic of Iran and various other countries”. Rubio explained that the agreement would start “a process that could take us where the president wants to go, that is, to a world that no longer has to fear or worry about an Iranian nuclear weapon.”
Reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and postponement of negotiations
The message published by Trump also highlighted the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a development that would ease tensions on energy markets after the long Iranian blockade of a sea route that in normal times transports about a fifth of world oil exports. Iranian officials confirmed the existence of a draft agreement, specifying however that contrary to previous American requests, discussions on the controversial Iranian nuclear program would be postponed for 60 days after the possible agreement.
Details of the draft and international consultations
According to the Iranian Fars agency, Washington has agreed to release part of the Iranian funds frozen abroad by international sanctions and to end the naval blockade against ships headed for Iranian ports. In exchange, “according to this draft, passage through the Strait of Hormuz would return to pre-war levels under Iranian management.” Fars also argues that sanctions on oil, gas, petrochemicals and derivatives would be temporarily suspended during the negotiation period, allowing Iran to freely sell its products.
Yesterday, Trump participated in a phone call with the leaders of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan and Bahrain, as well as representatives of Türkiye and Pakistan, to discuss the deal. Pakistan, which hosted direct negotiations between American and Iranian delegations in April, hopes to organize a new round of talks “very soon”, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said. Al Arabiya sources speak of an appointment already on the agenda for June 5th. Trump also reported that a separate phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “went very well.”