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Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja
The United States is reportedly close to finalising a deal with Iran that would end the conflict, reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and require Iran to surrender its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, regional officials told The Associated Press yesterday. However, President Donald Trump said he had instructed U.S. negotiators to “not rush into a deal.” He described the talks as “proceeding in an orderly and constructive manner” and noted that the relationship with Iran was becoming “much more professional and productive.” Trump also rebuffed criticism from some Republicans who called for a tougher stance.
The agreement is not expected to be signed Sunday (yesterday) according to a source familiar with the negotiations who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to comment publicly. The parties have previously appeared close to a deal in recent weeks, only to falter.
The reopening of the strait would ease a global energy crisis triggered by U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran on February 28, which led Tehran to effectively close the waterway. Oil, gas and related product prices have spiked, and experts say it could take several weeks or months for shipping and prices to recover once the strait reopens. The U.S. has blockaded Iranian ports for over a month, and Trump said the blockade would “remain in full force and effect until an agreement is reached, certified, and signed,” the AP report added.
One official with direct knowledge of the negotiations said that Iran’s surrender of the uranium would be subject to further talks during a 60‑day period. Some of the material would likely be diluted, while the remainder would be transferred to a third country, the official said. Russia has offered to take the material.
Iran possesses 440.9 kilograms (972 pounds) of uranium enriched to 60 percent purity, a short technical step from weapons‑grade levels of 90 percent, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Iran has not publicly committed to giving up its uranium, a key Trump demand. President Masoud Pezeshkian told state TV that Iran was ready “to assure the world that we are not after a nuclear weapon.” Iran has always insisted its programme is peaceful while enriching uranium to near weapons‑grade levels and asserts its right to nuclear technology.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, during a visit to India, said that “significant progress, although not final progress, has been made” in the negotiations and that the world would no longer need to fear Iran obtaining a nuclear weapon. Rubio told India Today that the “first stage” would be the full reopening of the strait. “The second is that Iran needs to enter into serious negotiations on three topics: their pledge never to have nuclear weapons, restrictions on their enrichment capabilities, and what to do with the highly enriched uranium,” he said. Trump has sought greater concessions from Iran than those required under the 2015 Obama‑era agreement that the U.S. later withdrew from under his administration.
On Saturday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei told the state‑run news agency that there are “narrowing differences” between the Iranian and U.S. positions, but Iran remains cautious after being attacked twice in the past year during nuclear negotiations. Under the emerging agreement, the Strait of Hormuz would gradually reopen in parallel with the U.S. ending its blockade, the two regional officials said.
The U.S. would allow Iran to sell its oil through sanctions waivers, said the second official, who has been briefed on the negotiations. Sanctions relief and the release of Iran’s frozen funds would be negotiated during the 60‑day period, the official said. Both officials said the draft deal includes an end to the war between Israel and the Iran‑backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon that began two days after the Iran war started.
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