Iran has agreed to surrender its stockpile of highly enriched uranium as part of a “largely negotiated” deal to end the war, according to US sources.
The deal includes an “apparent commitment” to giving up the uranium, but a concrete plan of how this would be done is expected to be established in further rounds of talks, two US officials told The New York Times.
Reports said the deal would also involve a 60-day ceasefire extension, during which the Strait of Hormuz would be reopened, and Iran would be able to sell oil freely.
Amid reports that the deal could be announced on Sunday, Mr Trump appeared to play down the prospect, saying the blockade would remain in place until a final agreement to end Iran’s nuclear weapon programme was reached.
“The negotiations are proceeding in an orderly and constructive manner, and I have informed my representatives not to rush into a deal when that time is on our side,” the president wrote on Truth Social.
“The blockade will remain in full force and effect until an agreement is reached, certified, and signed. Both sides must take their time and get it right. There can be no mistakes! Our relationship with Iran is becoming a much more professional and productive one. They must understand, however, that they cannot develop or procure a nuclear weapon or bomb.”
Iran’s nuclear programme has been a sticking point in negotiations since the US and Tehran agreed to a ceasefire in April, and agreeing to give up its uranium would represent a major concession from the Islamic Republic.
However, Iran’s Tasnim news agency said on Sunday that Tehran was yet to accept any actions on its nuclear programme, adding to the uncertainty over the deal.
The emerging agreement would also reopen the Strait of Hormuz without tolls during a 60-day ceasefire and allow Iran to resume unrestricted oil sales, according to a report by Axios citing a US official.
Iran would agree to clear the mines it has deployed in the waterway. Meanwhile, Washington would lift its blockade on Iranian ports and hand out sanctions waivers on Iranian oil.
Iran would reopen the Strait of Hormuz without tolls for 60 days under the agreement with the US – Majid Saeedi/Getty Images
In return, Iran would be required to commit never to pursue nuclear weapons and to enter negotiations over suspending its uranium enrichment programme and transferring its stockpile of near-weapons-grade uranium, Axios wrote.
US forces mobilised in recent months will remain in the region for 60 days, withdrawing only when the final deal has taken shape.
Billions of dollars worth of frozen Iranian assets held overseas would also be released as part of the deal, but this would only take place when Tehran agrees to a final nuclear agreement.
On Saturday, Donald Trump said that he was on the brink of a “largely negotiated” agreement to end the war in Iran and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, promising it “would be announced shortly”.
“Final aspects and details of the deal are currently being discussed, and will be announced shortly,” the president wrote. “In addition to many other elements of the agreement, the Strait of Hormuz will be opened.”
Marco Rubio, the secretary of state, said an announcement on a deal was possible later on Sunday.
“I do think perhaps there is the possibility that in the next few hours the world will get some good news,” he told reporters in New Delhi.
Donald Trump has said a peace deal with Iran has been ‘largely negotiated’ – Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Tehran added that it was “finalising” a memorandum of understanding to end the war.
Esmaeil Baghaei, the Iranian foreign ministry spokesman, said: “Our approach has been to draft a 14-point memorandum of understanding that includes the most important issues necessary for ending the war and matters that are fundamental for us.
“We are in the final stage of finalising this memorandum of understanding.”
However, Fars, a semi-official state-aligned Iranian news agency, reported on Sunday that the agreement being discussed would leave control of the strait in Tehran’s hands, calling Mr Trump’s claims about the waterway’s reopening “inconsistent with reality”.
Tasnim news agency reported that if the US blockade was not completely lifted within 30 days, there would be no change in the strait.
Washington’s negotiators reportedly threatened Tehran with a resumption of bombing if it refused the condition to surrender its highly enriched uranium in the initial round of negotiations, despite Tehran’s attempts to defer discussions on the topic.
Military officials drew up potential plans for Mr Trump in recent days to strike Iran’s nuclear stockpile, much of which is believed to be housed at the Isfahan nuclear facility. One option under discussion was striking the facility with bunker-busting bombs, The New York Times reported.
According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, Iran’s stockpile is made up of some 440kg of uranium enriched to 60 per cent.
Nuclear talks in the coming weeks or months will focus on how to dispose of the stockpile and address Iran’s enrichment programme, with the US pushing for a 20-year moratorium, while Iran has proposed a much shorter pause.
US officials hope to motivate Iran to agree to a final nuclear deal by promising the release of frozen Iranian assets abroad worth billions, to be placed into an economic reconstruction fund.
Mr Trump has previously said he will only consider a deal that tackles Iran’s uranium enrichment programmes as well as its vast stockpiles. However, Iran has argued it is entitled to enrich uranium for civilian purposes.
The draft memorandum also states that the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon will be brought to an end, according to Axios.
The draft agreement between Iran and the US would also bring fighting between Israel and Hezbollah to an end – AFP/Getty Images
This has prompted concerns in Israel, with Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, reportedly calling Mr Trump on Saturday to register his worries about that condition as well as other aspects of the deal.
Mr Trump said that the phone call with Mr Netanyahu “went very well”.
A source familiar with the issue told The Telegraph that Israel had “zero confidence in Iran or the deal”, adding: “But of course Israel is being very careful with what they’re saying publicly.
“Israel was hoping and pushing for a deal with guarantees from Trump that the highly enriched uranium would be dealt with. However, not all details are out yet and completely settled.”
Mr Netanyahu will convene a “limited” security cabinet at 6pm local time to discuss the emerging deal between the US and Iran.
Israel’s Channel 12 cited a senior Israeli official who said the deal sent a “dangerous” signal to Iran that the Strait of Hormuz could be as powerful as a nuclear weapon.
Dan Shapiro, former US ambassador to Israel, told Israel’s Army Radio that the deal was “not good” and “very weak” but that it was the “least bad option” other than a deal that would have maintained all sanctions.
The US president held talks on Saturday with the leaders of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Egypt, Pakistan and Turkey, who reportedly urged him to assent to the nascent agreement.
Pakistan, which mediated negotiations between US and Iranian delegations in April, hoped to host another round of talks “very soon”, said Shehbaz Sharif, the Pakistani prime minister.
He said Asim Munir, Pakistan’s powerful army chief who visited Tehran on Friday, also joined the call, which “provided a useful opportunity to exchange views on … how to move the ongoing peace efforts forward to bring lasting peace in the region”.
Sir Keir Starmer said any agreement between the US and Iran must ensure “unconditional and unrestricted” access to the Strait of Hormuz.
“I welcome the progress towards an agreement between the US and Iran,” Sir Keir said. “We need to see an agreement that brings the conflict to an end and reopens the Strait of Hormuz, with unconditional and unrestricted freedom of navigation.”
He added: “It’s vital that Iran must never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon. My Government will continue to do everything we can to protect British people from the impact of this conflict.”
US-Israeli strikes on Iran on Feb 28 sparked the war, with fighting persisting for weeks before a temporary ceasefire came into force in April.
“Final aspects and details of the deal are currently being discussed, and will be announced shortly,” Mr Trump said, without providing details.