The United States and Iran are working to finalize an agreement to permanently end the war in the Middle East, with the American Secretary of State hinting at a possible “good news” on Sunday.
After more than a month of conflict that resulted in thousands of deaths, a ceasefire has been in place since April 8 between Iran and the United States. However, the global economy continues to be shaken by the almost complete blockade of the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
“I think it is possible that in the coming hours, the world may receive good news,” said Marco Rubio to journalists during a visit to India.
President Donald Trump had previously mentioned a compromise that would involve the reopening of Hormuz, which has been effectively blocked by Tehran since the start of the war triggered by the Israeli-American attack on Iran on February 28.
According to American media reports, this agreement would allow ships to pass through Hormuz again, a passage through which a fifth of the world’s consumed hydrocarbons used to transit before the conflict.
Iranian sources familiar with the negotiations, quoted by the Fars news agency, state that the agreement envisions a blockade of the strait, but it would remain controlled by Iran.
Regarding the nuclear issue, CBS News reported, citing sources close to the discussions, that the latest proposal would also involve unfreezing some Iranian assets in foreign banks and continuing negotiations for an additional 30 days.
Iran emphasized that there would be no agreement unless a portion of its frozen assets were released at the first stage and a clear mechanism was in place to ensure the release of other blocked funds.
While a definitive agreement has not been reached yet, sources mention disagreements on this issue as a reason for the delay.
Fars reported that the sanctions on oil, gas, and other petrochemical products would be temporarily lifted during negotiations to allow Iran to export these vital productions for its economy.
The discussed agreement does not seem to address the nuclear issue. The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson stated that this matter was not currently part of the agreement under discussion and would be discussed separately.
Despite this, an Israeli official claimed that Trump assured the Israeli Prime Minister that any agreement with Tehran would entail the dismantlement of Iran’s nuclear program and the transfer of highly enriched uranium stock out of the country.
“We are always ready to assure the world that we do not seek to acquire nuclear weapons and do not intend to provoke any instability in the Middle East region,” affirmed Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian in a statement on Sunday.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan, a mediator in the negotiations, raised the possibility of a phased resolution to the conflict, expressing hope for the next round of negotiations soon.
A first round of talks, which was fruitless, took place in Islamabad on April 11.
American media outlets noted diverging strategies between Presidents Trump and Netanyahu, with Trump pushing for a diplomatic solution and Netanyahu reportedly favoring a return to combat.
However, some experts believe that the proposed agreement may be perceived as a victory for Iran, and Tehran is wary that it could be a prelude to war. This sentiment is based on the belief that the more generous the terms of the agreement towards Iran, the more suspicious Iran becomes of the U.S.’s commitment to peace, potentially viewing the negotiations as a diversion before a new offensive.
On Sunday, the Iranian military maintained a warlike tone, stating that they are in a state of war and fully prepared to confront any enemy.
The apparent rapprochement between the warring parties comes after weeks of blockages and threats.
In a separate development, the Israeli army on Sunday called for the evacuation of about ten villages in southern and eastern Lebanon, ahead of planned strikes against the pro-Iranian Hezbollah group, despite the ongoing ceasefire. Eleven people, including six women and a child, were killed in an Israeli strike in the southern part of the country on Saturday, according to the Ministry of Health.
Published on May 24 at 4:18 PM by AFP.
