US and Iran close to reaching agreement to end war

The United States and Iran are close to finalizing an agreement after a breakthrough in their discussions to end the war. “I think it may be possible that, in the coming hours, the world will receive good news,” said US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday. Donald Trump had previously mentioned a compromise that was “largely negotiated”. According to American media, this agreement would allow ships to pass through the vital Strait of Hormuz again, easing sanctions on Iran. However, the thorny issue of nuclear weapons would be left for further negotiations.

CBS News, citing sources close to the discussions, reported that the latest proposal includes unfreezing some Iranian assets in foreign banks and continuing negotiations for an additional 30 days. The agreement under discussion does not address how Iran would dispose of its stocks of enriched uranium precisely, which would be the subject of upcoming negotiations in the weeks or months to come.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson stated on Saturday that Tehran was in the “finalization phase” of an agreement protocol with Washington. The nuclear issue is not part of the current discussions at this stage, but the lifting of the US naval blockade on Iranian ports and the strategic Strait of Hormuz blockade by Iran since the war began are included in the talks.

Israel wishes for a return to fighting

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who is mediating in these negotiations, hinted at a phased conflict resolution scenario, expressing hope for “welcoming the next negotiation session very soon.” The first round of talks, which was unsuccessful, took place in Islamabad on April 11 between senior American and Iranian officials.

The proposed agreement, widely negotiated and “pending finalization”, includes the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, as mentioned by US President Donald Trump in a post on his Truth Social platform. This message followed a telephone discussion with many leaders from Gulf states, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, and Pakistan.

The American President also stated that he had a “productive” call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, highlighting the divergent strategies between them for diplomatic solutions or a return to conflict.

Unpopular War

The apparent rapprochement between the belligerents comes after weeks of impasse and threats. Donald Trump had previously estimated the chances of a “good” agreement or a return to war as “50-50”. The Iranian chief negotiator promised an “overwhelming” response if the US resumed its war against Iran, following his meeting with the Pakistani army chief in Tehran as part of Islamabad’s mediation efforts.

After over a month of war resulting in thousands of deaths and global economic disruptions, a ceasefire has been in effect since April 8 between Iran and the United States. Diplomats in the Gulf are working to finalize discussions and prevent further strikes to avoid a resurgence of conflict. The war, unpopular in the US, has also severely disrupted the global economy, where a fifth of the world’s consumed hydrocarbons used to pass through the Strait of Hormuz before the conflict.

The Iranians express their fatigue, with one individual stating that the state of “neither war nor peace” is worse than war itself. Despite the ceasefire in Lebanon that began on April 17, the Israeli army continues to conduct raids and call for evacuations in southern Lebanon. In Nabatiyeh, the Lebanese civil defense lamented the destruction of their regional center in an Israeli strike.