Both Tehran and Washington have confirmed that a deal was struck, but it’s not at all clear what’s in the paper yet.
Here’s what we know so far about the content of the framework:
- Format: The document is billed as a memorandum of understanding and is believed to be two pages long, US correspondent Mark Stone reports. According to Iran’s semi-official Mehr news agency, it will be endorsed by a UN Security Council resolution.
- Fighting to stop: According to Pakistan’s prime minister, the pact called for “the immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon”. The ceasefire is due to last for 60 days during which a more substantive agreement will be negotiated. But Israel has said it’s not part of the agreement and previously said it retained freedom of operations in Lebanon.
- Strait of Hormuz reopening: Donald Trump said the major shipping route, which Iran has effectively shut down, would open on Friday. He also ordered that the US blockade of Iranian ports be lifted then. The strait will be “permanently toll-free”, he told the New York Times.
- Sanctions relief for Iran: This is among the topics left to be negotiated over the 60-day ceasefire period, according to Iran’s deputy foreign minister, Kazem Gharibabad. The Trump administration previously said Iranian money will be released only once Iran has fulfilled certain conditions. Mehr claims $12bn will be released before the talks start and also repeated claims the US needed to present reconstruction plans worth at least $300bn for Iran.
- Missile programme: Little is known about that, but Mehr said the MoU excludes it from the final talks.
- Nuclear programme in limbo: Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium will be addressed during the 60-day ceasefire, sources previously told Reuters. US and Iranian opinions still diverge: a US official said before the announcement a deal would see the stockpile being removed and destroyed. A senior Iranian official said the draft deal allows Iran to dilute its enriched uranium inside the country. Trump said on Sunday if Iran failed to reach a nuclear deal, he would restart military attacks or make the United States “the guardian of the Middle East” in return for 20% of the region’s revenues.
Meanwhile, the U.S. will fully lift sanctions on Iran and pay reparations as part of the agreed framework to end the war, the spokesperson of Iran’s foreign ministry said.
Esmaeil Baghaei mentioned this in his daily news briefing as he shared some of the content of the agreed deal, according to the Iranian perspective.
Here’s what he said:
- Iranian funds: Unfreezing of Iran’s assets and war reparations are two important economic priorities in this memorandum of understanding, and the US commits to their implementation.
- Sanctions: Washington must lift all primary and secondary sanctions, as well as UN Security Council resolutions. All restrictions on the sale of Iranian oil and petrochemical products will be lifted immediately with the signing of the MoU.
- Nuclear programme: The details of these nuclear and economic matters will be finalised within 60 days of the signing of the agreement.
- Strait of Hormuz: Under the MoU, Iran will ensure the security and safe passage of ships in the key shipping lane in cooperation with Oman and in consultation with stakeholders. Tolls will be charged.
- Lebanon: The country is mentioned three times in the memorandum of understanding, and its sovereignty and territorial independence are emphasised in particular.
- Breaches: If the US fails to deliver its commitments under the agreement, Tehran will take reciprocal measures.
@Sky News
