U.S., Iran Work Toward Deal Linking Hormuz Reopening to Nuclear Talks and Sanctions Relief – WSJ
A senior Trump administration official told the Wall Street Journal Sunday that the agreement-in-principle is a trade: Iran would fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for the U.S. lifting its blockade on Iranian shipments and giving Iran’s economy some unspecified “breathing room.” The official said Washington has made no specific pledge to unfreeze assets or initially lift sanctions.
That may be one of the last unresolved issues, as Iran is insisting on upfront asset relief.
Iran has also accepted the principle of disposing of all its high- and low-enriched uranium, though how and when that would happen remains undecided, the official said.
The U.S. would provide broader sanctions relief tied to the steps Iran takes to restrict its nuclear program under a final agreement. The official said Tehran and Washington have not agreed on a timeline for suspending Iran’s nuclear work.
The official said the number of years Iran is barred from enriching nuclear material matters less than having a strong enforcement mechanism to prevent enrichment.
Middle Eastern mediators separately said the memorandum of understanding would keep the pause in fighting in place for at least 60 days, extending the current ceasefire while both sides reopen the strait and begin talks on Iran’s nuclear program. Iran also demanded the U.S. release some of its estimated $100 billion in frozen assets and ease sanctions so it can sell oil, they said, though the Trump administration official did not confirm that request.
For the next phase, Iranian negotiators indicated they could discuss a shorter suspension of uranium enrichment than the 20 years sought by the U.S., and that uranium enriched above 20% could be diluted inside Iran under regional supervision, the mediators said.
Regional leaders urged Trump during a Saturday call to accept a deal with Iran to avoid serious damage to regional energy facilities, Gulf officials said. While Gulf leaders support a diplomatic off-ramp, they remain concerned the current proposal would leave them exposed, the officials said.
Iran has not discussed its missile program or guaranteed that Gulf countries would not be targeted by Tehran or allied militias in the region, the officials said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to convene his security cabinet Sunday night to discuss Iran, a person familiar with the matter told the Wall Street Journal. Officials are concerned about the lack of clarity surrounding the second stage of negotiations, when the U.S. and Iran would discuss nuclear issues.
