{"id":100617,"date":"2026-05-06T13:21:23","date_gmt":"2026-05-06T13:21:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/100617\/"},"modified":"2026-05-06T13:21:23","modified_gmt":"2026-05-06T13:21:23","slug":"us-and-iran-closing-in-on-memo-to-end-war-sources-say","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/100617\/","title":{"rendered":"US and Iran closing in on memo to end war, sources say"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Pakistani source: &#8216;We will close this very soon&#8217;Oil prices fall sharply on hopes of end to disruptionIran demands fair, comprehensive deal in talks, Foreign Minister Araqchi saysTrump claims &#8216;great progress&#8217; towards agreement, pauses ship escorts through HormuzFrench container ship hit in strait, crew injuredISLAMABAD\/WASHINGTON\/TEL AVIV, May 6 (Reuters) &#8211; The United States and Iran are closing in on an agreement on a one-page memorandum to <a data-testid=\"Link\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/iran-war-live-trump-pauses-project-freedom-hormuz-strait-mentions-possible-peace-2026-05-06\/\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__inherit-color__PhuPF text-module__inherit-font__1P1hv text-module__inherit-size__EyiQW link-module__link__INqxZ link-module__underline_default__-okuC\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">end the war in the Gulf<\/a>, a source from mediator Pakistan \u200band another source briefed on the mediation said.<\/p>\n<p>In an early morning social media post, U.S. President Donald Trump gave no details of any specific proposal but said the war could end if &#8220;Iran \u200cagrees to give what has been agreed to&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p data-testid=\"promo-box\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__dark-grey__UFC18 text-module__regular__qJJtA text-module__small__sph8i body-module__base__o--Cl body-module__small_body__gOmDf article-body-module__promo-box__hVl8h\"> Sign up  <a data-testid=\"Link\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/china\/iran-says-it-wants-comprehensive-agreement-with-us-2026-05-06\/undefined?location=article-paragraph&amp;redirectUrl=%2Fworld%2Fchina%2Firan-says-it-wants-comprehensive-agreement-with-us-2026-05-06%2F\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__inherit-color__PhuPF text-module__inherit-font__1P1hv text-module__inherit-size__EyiQW link-module__link__INqxZ link-module__underline_default__-okuC\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">here.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>The sources confirmed information initially reported by the U.S. media outlet Axios. The proposed 14-point, one-page memorandum would formally end <a data-testid=\"Link\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/iran\/\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__inherit-color__PhuPF text-module__inherit-font__1P1hv text-module__inherit-size__EyiQW link-module__link__INqxZ link-module__underline_default__-okuC\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">the war<\/a>, followed by discussions to unblock shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, lift U.S. sanctions on Iran and agree curbs on Iran&#8217;s nuclear programme.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We will close this very soon. We are getting close,&#8221; said the source from Pakistan, which hosted the war&#8217;s only peace talks so far and has continued in that role of mediator, ferrying proposals between the sides.<\/p>\n<p>Reports of the possible agreement caused global oil \u200bprices to plunge, with benchmark Brent crude futures falling around 11% to around $98 a barrel . <a data-testid=\"Link\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/china\/global-markets-wrapup-1-2026-05-06\/\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__inherit-color__PhuPF text-module__inherit-font__1P1hv text-module__inherit-size__EyiQW link-module__link__INqxZ link-module__underline_default__-okuC\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Global share prices also leapt<\/a> and bond yields fell on optimism of an end to a war that has disrupted energy supplies.<\/p>\n<p>In \u200bhis morning post, Trump said: &#8220;Assuming Iran agrees to give what has been agreed to, which is, perhaps, a big assumption, the already legendary Epic Fury will be at an \u2060end, and the highly effective Blockade will allow the Hormuz Strait to be OPEN TO ALL, including Iran.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;If they don\u2019t agree, the bombing starts, and it will be, sadly, at a much higher level and intensity than it was \u200bbefore,&#8221; Trump added.<\/p>\n<p>Hours earlier, Trump <a data-testid=\"Link\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/asia-pacific\/middle-east-truce-doubt-us-iran-fight-control-strait-hormuz-2026-05-05\/\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__inherit-color__PhuPF text-module__inherit-font__1P1hv text-module__inherit-size__EyiQW link-module__link__INqxZ link-module__underline_default__-okuC\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">paused a three-day-old naval mission<\/a> to reopen the blockaded strait, citing progress in peace talks.<\/p>\n<p>Iran&#8217;s Revolutionary Guards responded by saying that if U.S. &#8220;threats&#8221; had ended, passage through the strait would be possible under new terms it was \u200bputting in place, without giving details.<\/p>\n<p>The White House, the State Department and Iranian officials contacted by Reuters did not immediately respond to requests for comment. U.S. news channel CNBC quoted a spokesperson from the Iranian foreign ministry as saying Tehran was evaluating a 14-point U.S. proposal.<\/p>\n<p>NO MENTION OF KEY US DEMANDS<\/p>\n<p>The source briefed on the mediation said the U.S. negotiations were being led by Trump&#8217;s envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner.<\/p>\n<p>If both sides agreed on the preliminary deal, that would start the clock on 30 days of detailed negotiations to reach \u200ba full agreement, the source said.<\/p>\n<p>The source said the full agreement would include the U.S. lifting sanctions and releasing frozen Iranian funds, Iran and the United States lifting competing blockades on the Strait of Hormuz, and curbs on Iran&#8217;s \u200bnuclear programme, with the aim of seeking a pause or moratorium on Iranian enrichment of uranium.<\/p>\n<p>While the sources said the memorandum would not initially require concessions from either side, the sources and Axios did not mention several of the key demands that Washington has \u200cmade in the \u2060past and that have previously been rejected by Iran.<\/p>\n<p>Item 1 of 9 An Iranian woman walks next to a mural on a street in Tehran, Iran, May 6, 2026. Majid Asgaripour\/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS<\/p>\n<p>[1\/9]An Iranian woman walks next to a mural on a street in Tehran, Iran, May 6, 2026. Majid Asgaripour\/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS <a data-testid=\"Link\" target=\"_blank\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reutersconnect.com\/item\/an-iranian-woman-walks-next-to-a-mural-on-a-street-in-tehran\/dGFnOnJldXRlcnMuY29tLDIwMjY6bmV3c21sX1JDMkszTEFJUFUyUg%3D%3D\/?utm_medium=rcom-article-media&amp;utm_campaign=rcom-rcp-lead\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__inherit-color__PhuPF text-module__inherit-font__1P1hv text-module__inherit-size__EyiQW link-module__link__INqxZ link-module__underline_default__-okuC link-module__with-icon__qlg76 collapsible-caption-module__license__CPQvV\">Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab<\/a><\/p>\n<p>U.S. demands that were not mentioned include: curbs on Iran&#8217;s missile programme and an end to its support for proxy militias in the Middle East.<\/p>\n<p>While the sources spoke of a moratorium on future Iranian enrichment of uranium, they did not mention Iran&#8217;s existing stockpile of more than 400 kg (900 pounds) of uranium enriched to near weapons grade.<\/p>\n<p>Washington has previously demanded Iran give this up before any end to the war. Iran has in the past insisted on its right to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes and denied ever seeking to build an atomic bomb.<\/p>\n<p>TRUMP PAUSES MISSION TO UNBLOCK STRAIT<\/p>\n<p>Earlier, Trump announced a pause to &#8220;Project Freedom&#8221;, a mission he had announced two days earlier to \u200bguide ships through the blocked strait.<\/p>\n<p>The mission had failed to \u200bbring about any significant resumption of traffic through the \u2060waterway, while provoking a new wave of Iranian strikes on ships in the strait and on targets in neighbouring countries.<\/p>\n<p>In the latest incident, a French shipping company reported on Wednesday that one of its container ships had been <a data-testid=\"Link\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/cma-cgm-container-ship-hit-strait-hormuz-injuring-crew-2026-05-06\/\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__inherit-color__PhuPF text-module__inherit-font__1P1hv text-module__inherit-size__EyiQW link-module__link__INqxZ link-module__underline_default__-okuC\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">struck in the strait<\/a> the previous day, and that injured crew had been evacuated.<\/p>\n<p>In announcing he was pausing the mission, Trump cited &#8220;great progress&#8221; \u200bin negotiations with Iran, without giving further details.<\/p>\n<p>Trump had said last week he was likely to reject Iran&#8217;s latest proposal for talks. The Iranian offer also contained 14 \u200bpoints, and also called for setting \u2060aside discussion of nuclear issues until after the war ended and the shipping dispute was resolved.<\/p>\n<p>In comments on a visit to China on Wednesday, Iran&#8217;s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi made no mention of Trump&#8217;s latest remarks, but said Tehran was holding out for &#8220;a fair and comprehensive agreement&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/chart.png\" alt=\"A map showing the inbound and outbound shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz, in addition to the the maritime boundary between Oman and Iran.\"\/>A map showing the inbound and outbound shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz, in addition to the the maritime boundary between Oman and Iran.STRAIT SHUT SINCE END OF FEBRUARY<\/p>\n<p>Iran has effectively shut the strait to all shipping apart from its own since the United States and Israel launched the war on February 28. In April, Washington imposed its own separate blockade of \u2060Iranian ports.<\/p>\n<p>Trump&#8217;s Project \u200bFreedom mission to use the U.S. Navy to open the strait failed to persuade merchant ships that it was safe, while provoking new attacks \u200bfrom Iran, which said it was expanding the area under its control to include swathes of the coastline of the United Arab Emirates, on the strait&#8217;s far side.<\/p>\n<p>While the mission was in effect, Iranian drones and missiles hit several ships in and around the strait and targets in the \u200bUAE, including the only major Emirati oil port on the coast beyond the strait which allowed exports without crossing through it.<\/p>\n<p data-testid=\"SignOff\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__dark-grey__UFC18 text-module__regular__qJJtA text-module__extra_small__8Buss body-module__full_width__kCIGb body-module__extra_small_body__Bfz20 sign-off-module__text__LQAMP\">Reporting by Reuters bureaus; Writing by Peter Graff; Editing by Alex Richardson<\/p>\n<p data-testid=\"Body\" dir=\"ltr\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__dark-grey__UFC18 text-module__regular__qJJtA text-module__small__sph8i body-module__base__o--Cl body-module__small_body__gOmDf article-body-module__element__5eCce article-body-module__trust-badge__5mS3f\">Our Standards: <a data-testid=\"Link\" target=\"_blank\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thomsonreuters.com\/en\/about-us\/trust-principles.html\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__dark-grey__UFC18 text-module__medium__2Rl30 text-module__small__sph8i link-module__link__INqxZ link-module__underline_default__-okuC link-module__with-icon__qlg76\">The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.reutersagency.com\/en\/licensereuterscontent\/?utm_medium=rcom-article-media&amp;utm_campaign=rcom-rcp-lead\" target=\"_blank\" dir=\"ltr\" class=\"button-module__link__A3sD0 button-module__secondary__70gBu button-module__round__QDFgq button-module__w_auto__Sem-F\" data-testid=\"LicenceContentButton\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Purchase Licensing Rights<\/a><a data-testid=\"AuthorBioImageLink\" class=\"author-bio-module__author-image__jcaG3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/authors\/ariba-shahid\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" tabindex=\"-1\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/https:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/arc-authors\/reuters\/92d7c492-763d-468a-bee3-b3c334808060.png\" alt=\"Ariba Shahid\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p data-testid=\"Body\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__dark-grey__UFC18 text-module__regular__qJJtA text-module__extra_small__8Buss body-module__base__o--Cl body-module__extra_small_body__Bfz20 author-bio-module__description__9ynkB\">Ariba Shahid is a journalist based in Karachi, Pakistan. She primarily covers economic and financial news from Pakistan, along with Karachi-centric stories. Ariba has previously worked at DealStreetAsia and Profit Magazine. <\/p>\n<p><a data-testid=\"AuthorBioImageLink\" class=\"author-bio-module__author-image__jcaG3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/authors\/alexander-cornwell\/\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" tabindex=\"-1\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/resizer\/v2\/https%3A%2F%2Fauthor-service-images-prod-us-east-1.publishing.aws.arc.pub%2Freuters%2Fe4c8a815-5810-4dfa-892c-833d94f74f7e.png?auth=10d36e4cf889723c5a4239a53eba78789951599c056efa68014eaf7452076cd7&amp;height=120&amp;width=120&amp;quality=80&amp;smart=true\" alt=\"Alexander Cornwell\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p data-testid=\"Body\" class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__dark-grey__UFC18 text-module__regular__qJJtA text-module__extra_small__8Buss body-module__base__o--Cl body-module__extra_small_body__Bfz20 author-bio-module__description__9ynkB\">Alexander has over a decade of international reporting experience. He is currently a senior correspondent in Jerusalem covering Israel &amp; the Palestinian Territories and was formerly in Dubai where he covered the Arabian Peninsula, including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Yemen, often writing about foreign policy, security and economic-related issues.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Pakistani source: &#8216;We will close this very soon&#8217;Oil prices fall sharply on hopes of end to disruptionIran demands&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":100618,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[35135,25107,33574,488,14989,35131,29978,35134,14975,35136,25110,29954,35125,14976,35126,33575,15002,33576,25135,14993,25142,15004,25134,33577,14997,15001,15007,25137,14994,25132,15010,25140,25139,15011,25144,15012,29985,15013,14999,15003,14998,15009,14995,15000,15008,15006,33578,25131,25138,15005,35137,14977,35130,14988,14990,25112,25113,6875,1693,29980,14978,35138,22168,35127,2118,34,14986,35139,25129,29951,25108,35133,14981,35128,25116,29986,15016,29981,14982,5352,29969,35132,15014,15015,29977,14983,29974,14985,69,14987,29975,25130,25128,35129,29976,153,36,25106],"class_list":{"0":"post-100617","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-tehran","8":"tag-ae","9":"tag-amers","10":"tag-anlins","11":"tag-asia","12":"tag-asxpac","13":"tag-bh","14":"tag-ceeu","15":"tag-cisc","16":"tag-clj","17":"tag-cn","18":"tag-com","19":"tag-cont","20":"tag-crim","21":"tag-cwp","22":"tag-def","23":"tag-destabx","24":"tag-destafa","25":"tag-destbnx","26":"tag-destc","27":"tag-destcsa","28":"tag-destd","29":"tag-destdnp","30":"tag-deste","31":"tag-destfun","32":"tag-destg","33":"tag-destgbn","34":"tag-destgns","35":"tag-destgro","36":"tag-destlby","37":"tag-destm","38":"tag-destmetop","39":"tag-destmtl","40":"tag-desto","41":"tag-destocatpm","42":"tag-destoil","43":"tag-destouktpm","44":"tag-destoustpm","45":"tag-destouswdm","46":"tag-destpge","47":"tag-destpsc","48":"tag-destrast","49":"tag-destrbn","50":"tag-destreulb","51":"tag-destrnp","52":"tag-destrws","53":"tag-destrwsa","54":"tag-destseatp","55":"tag-destsof","56":"tag-destu","57":"tag-destucdptest","58":"tag-destz","59":"tag-dip","60":"tag-easia","61":"tag-emea","62":"tag-emrg","63":"tag-ener","64":"tag-enff","65":"tag-eng","66":"tag-eu","67":"tag-europ","68":"tag-gen","69":"tag-graphc","70":"tag-il","71":"tag-intag","72":"tag-ir","73":"tag-iran","74":"tag-meast","75":"tag-mtgfx","76":"tag-mtpix","77":"tag-mtvid","78":"tag-namer","79":"tag-nasia","80":"tag-news1","81":"tag-nucl","82":"tag-oilg","83":"tag-packageus-top-news","84":"tag-packageworld-news","85":"tag-pk","86":"tag-pol","87":"tag-potus","88":"tag-pxp","89":"tag-ru","90":"tag-rulesiran","91":"tag-rulesiran-crisis","92":"tag-sasia","93":"tag-secur","94":"tag-shpng","95":"tag-swasia","96":"tag-tehran","97":"tag-tglf","98":"tag-tnkr","99":"tag-topcmb","100":"tag-topnws","101":"tag-trd","102":"tag-trnspt","103":"tag-us","104":"tag-war","105":"tag-wash"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"","error":"Validation failed: Text character limit of 500 exceeded"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/100617","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=100617"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/100617\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/100618"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=100617"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=100617"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=100617"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}