On June 13, the US and Iran sent signals showing that an agreement to end the conflict between the two countries is very close. A senior official in the US administration said that the two sides had agreed on a document and Washington expected to sign an initial agreement in the next few days.
Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said that adjustments may still appear, but the preliminary agreement shows that Iran has stepped out of the war with a stronger position. On state television, Mr. Araqchi declared: "Iran is the winner in the conflict with the US".
According to many sources involved in the negotiations, the memorandum of understanding proposed includes reopening the Strait of Hormuz and ending US naval blockades of Iranian ports. Negotiations on Tehran's nuclear program will be conducted afterwards.
The unnamed US official said the agreement meets President Donald Trump's core objectives and brings the negotiation process to a "very, very favorable" position.
Western, Pakistani and Iranian sources said the draft terms could bring many benefits to Tehran. Mr. Trump denied this information and said it was inaccurate.
According to sources, the US will begin to release billions of USD of Iran's frozen assets and ease sanctions on oil exports in exchange for Tehran reopening the Strait of Hormuz. In the 60-day negotiation phase, the Iranian nuclear program issue will continue to be resolved.
US officials affirmed that the final agreement will lead to the elimination of Iran's nuclear program, the destruction and removal of high-enriched uranium from this country, and the application of a long-term inspection mechanism.
However, Mr. Araqchi said that Iran does not accept the abolition of its nuclear program and wants to maintain the amount of uranium in diluted form.
Some sources also said that the draft mentions the possibility of discussing war reparations to Tehran and abandoning the long-standing US demands related to Iran's missile program. The US side denied this information.
Iran said that together with Oman, it will continue to control traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. Mr. Araqchi declared: "Our sword will always be hanging on the Strait of Hormuz".
Iranian media also reported explosions at Sirik port and Qeshm Island, which local authorities believe are warning shots from Iranian forces aimed at ships trying to pass through waterways without the permission of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guards Navy.
Israel, the country that joined the US in launching the war, did not participate in the negotiations. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu affirmed that this country will not take sides in the agreement.
