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The agreement’s primary goal is to curb Iran’s ability to develop nuclear weapons while offering the country relief from economic sanctions.
CAIRO, Egypt — U.S. President Donald Trump announced that discussions regarding a deal with Iran, focused on the Middle East conflict and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, are nearing completion. This follows a series of conversations over the weekend with Israel and regional allies.
However, officials urged prudence on Sunday. Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized that while “significant headway has been achieved,” the negotiations remain incomplete.
During a four-day tour of India for discussions with Indian, Australian, and Japanese leaders, Rubio expressed optimism, anticipating positive developments shortly.
Rubio highlighted that the negotiations have fulfilled one of Trump’s key objectives: creating a global environment free from the threat of an Iranian nuclear arsenal.
Trump said on Saturday he had spoken with leaders from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan and Bahrain, and separately with Israel.
“Final aspects and details of the Deal are currently being discussed, and will be announced shortly,” Trump said on social media, with no details.
The announcement capped a week in which the U.S. weighed a new round of attacks on the Islamic Republic that would break a fragile ceasefire.
Details of a deal begin to emerge
The potential deal will include Iran’s commitment that it won’t pursue a nuclear weapon, and Tehran agreed to give up its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, according to two regional officials.
One official, with direct knowledge of the negotiations, said how Iran will give up its highly enriched uranium is a subject of further negotiations over the course of a 60-day period.
It’s highly likely that a part of the amount will be diluted, while the rest will be transferred to a third country, potentially Russia, he said.
Iran has 440.9 kilograms (972 pounds) of uranium that is enriched up to 60% purity, a short, technical step from weapons-grade levels of 90%, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency.
The Strait of Hormuz will be gradually open in parallel with the U.S. ending its blockade of Iran’s ports, said the official.
The U.S. will also allow Iran to sell its oil through sanctions waivers, said the second official who has been briefed on the negotiations. Sanctions relief and release of Iran’s frozen funds will be negotiated during the 60-day time frame, he said.
Both officials said the draft deal includes an end of the war between Israel and Hezbollah, as well as a commitment of not interfering in the domestic affairs of countries in the region. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss closed-door deliberations.
Twelve weeks have passed since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran on Feb. 28, killing top Iranian officials including its supreme leader and interrupting nuclear talks between the U.S. and Iran for the second time in less than a year. Iran fired at Israel and at neighbors hosting U.S. forces, shaking Gulf nations that had considered themselves safe havens in a tough region.
A ceasefire has held since April 7. But Iran’s decision to effectively close the Strait of Hormuz for ships carrying regional oil, natural gas and other critical supplies has been a focal point of global concern and economic pain.
Israel concerned over Hezbollah
Israeli officials are concerned that Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group allied with Iran, remains a serious threat to Israel and that Lebanon is ill-equipped to disarm it.
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 the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.
The official said Trump made it clear to Netanyahu that he will not sign any final agreement without the conditions that Iran dismantle its entire nuclear program and remove all enriched uranium from the country.
Israel’s Minister of Science and Technology Gila Gamliel, a member of Netanyahu’s Likud party and part of his national security cabinet, told Israel’s Army Radio on Sunday morning that Israel is taking a “wait-and-see” approach.
There is a fragile, U.S.-brokered ceasefire in the Israel-Hezbollah war in Lebanon since April 17, a conflict that began two days after the Iran war started.
Despite the ceasefire, firing continues on both sides. Hezbollah launches daily drones and projectiles toward Israeli soldiers and northern Israel, and Israel strikes targets in Lebanon while its troops remain in large swaths of southern Lebanon.
More than 3,000 people have been killed in the latest round of fighting, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry. Additionally, 22 Israeli soldiers and a defense contractor have been killed in or near southern Lebanon, and two civilians have been killed in northern Israel, mostly from Hezbollah drones, according to Netanyahu’s office.
Lidman reported from Tel Aviv, Israel. Associated Press writers Sheikh Saaliq in New Delhi and Munir Ahmed in Islamabad contributed to this report.
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