A memorandum between the U.S. and Iran to end the war in the Gulf could be signed as early as Sunday, a source from a Western country told Reuters today.
Geneva is emerging as the most likely venue for such a meeting.
The source stated that the wording of the memorandum is still being finalized and that Iran maintains its position that the agreement must also end the conflicts in Lebanon, where Israelis fighting against the pro-Iranian Hezbollah.
The goal was to finalize the wording by tomorrow, Saturday, so that the agreement could be signed by U.S. Vice President Jay D. Vance and Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bayar Galibaf. No location has been set for this, but Geneva appears to be the most likely.
The Iranian news agency Mehr today released what it presented as a draft agreement with the United States aimed at establishing a framework for ending the war on all fronts, including Lebanon.
Iran’s positions
According to the agency, this plan framework agreement-provides for the “permanent and immediate cessation of hostilities on all fronts, including Lebanon,” “60 days of negotiations to reach an agreement on nuclear issues and the complete lifting of sanctions” imposed by the United States.
Citing a source in the Iranian negotiating team, the agency reported that the plan includes “the unfreezing of $24 billion in frozen Iranian funds during the final 60-day negotiation period,” clarifying that half of this amount would be “made available to Iran before the start of negotiations.”
It is not relinquishing control of the Strait of Hormuz
The official Iranian news agency IRNA reported that, based on draft framework agreement with the United States aimed at ending the war in the Middle East, Tehran is not going to relinquish control of the strategically important <a href="https://tomanifesto.gr/Strait of Hormuz.
“Iran makes no this text to hand over control of the straits or to restore the conditions that prevailed before the American and Israeli military attack,” according to IRNA, which describes “the general outlines of the current text” that is moving toward finalization.
What will happen with the nuclear program
IRNA also reported that, based on the draft framework agreement, the issue of Iran’s nuclear program will be addressed during the 60 days of negotiations between Tehran and Washington, with Tehran insisting on its “right” to enrichment.
“Iran will negotiate its nuclear program exclusively within the framework of the fundamental principles of the Islamic Republic, and issues such as Iran’s right to enrich uranium and to retain enriched materials (…) will be pushed for inclusion in the final agreement,” IRNA reported.
