Iran has announced that a deal aimed at ending the war with the United States is nearing finalization. Under the terms of the proposed agreement, Iran would reopen the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told state television that the agreement includes the lifting of US sanctions against Iran. However, discussions regarding Iran’s nuclear program will be deferred to a later stage.
US officials have confirmed certain details of the agreement but emphasized that whether Tehran receives economic relief remains strictly contingent upon fulfilling its commitments.
The conflict erupted on February 28 following US and Israeli strikes across Iran. In response, Iran launched retaliatory attacks against Israel and US allies in the Persian Gulf, while also shutting down the Strait of Hormuz—one of the world's most critical transit routes for global oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments.
Despite both sides agreeing to a ceasefire in April, sporadic exchanges of fire between the US and Iran have persisted, including two rounds of retaliatory strikes initiated by both sides this week.
US President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that he had called off a series of pre-planned strikes on Iran, noting that negotiators from both sides had reached "a great understanding" and that a deal could be signed very soon.
On Friday, Iranian media outlets published details of a purported 14-point agreement. However, President Trump completely dismissed the report, stating it bears no relation to the agreed terms and is entirely unfounded.
A few hours later, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced that the US-Iran memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been finalized and is currently awaiting approval. Notably, Pakistan has acted as a key mediator in facilitating the deal.
Meanwhile, Iranian state media reports indicate that members of the country’s Supreme National Security Council remain divided over the final terms of the agreement.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that a consensus has not yet been reached on the matter. "For now, we have to wait," Araghchi said.
The agreement aims to extend the current ceasefire and initiate discussions on core issues, including Iran's nuclear program. Notably, Israel has not participated in these negotiations.
For decades, Western nations have accused Iran of attempting to develop nuclear weapons—a charge Tehran has consistently denied, maintaining that its nuclear program is strictly for peaceful purposes, such as power generation and research.
During a press briefing yesterday afternoon, US officials stated that under the deal, Iran will reopen the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for the immediate lifting of US sanctions on Iranian shipping.
Following these initial steps, a 60-day negotiation period will commence, focusing primarily on Iran’s enriched uranium, which serves as a key component for nuclear weapons.
Officials stated that the negotiations aim to ensure these materials are dismantled inside Iran and subsequently removed from the country, though the precise mechanism for doing so has yet to be determined.
