Trump Says Iran Deal Near as Tehran Reviews 14-Point US Proposal

The Jerusalem Post

The flags of US and Iran.

With US President Donald Trump confirming that an agreement with Tehran is close, the Iranian side is expected to respond within the coming hours to a US proposal aimed at ending the conflict, which reportedly contains 14 points.

A well-informed regional source told CNN that Tehran is reviewing the proposal and is expected to deliver its response later today.

US officials said the American proposal requires Tehran to formally declare that it is not seeking to obtain nuclear weapons.

They added that Washington has called for the dismantling of the Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan nuclear facilities. The proposal also includes a 20-year suspension of uranium enrichment.

Regarding the 400 kilogrammes of highly enriched uranium, the proposal calls for it to be handed over. However, it remains unclear which country or body would receive it should Tehran agree, although Russia had previously offered to take custody of the material.

The United States would lift its naval blockade on Iranian ports in exchange for Iran removing the de facto restrictions it has imposed on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. During an interview with PBS last night, Trump hinted at aspects of the proposal, suggesting that the United States itself may not receive Iran’s highly enriched uranium.

He also stated that Iran would not be permitted to resume uranium enrichment, even at the 4 per cent level allowed under the 2015 agreement, once the freeze period expires. Trump further stressed that Tehran would commit to not operating its underground nuclear facilities under the agreement, referring to the sites at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan.

In addition, he said the United States would ease sanctions on Tehran if an agreement is reached, while also hinting that a deal could be concluded before his visit to China next week.

At the same time, however, Trump warned that “if Iran does not agree, the bombing will begin at a much higher and more intense level than before”. He added: “I think there’s a good chance it will end, but if it doesn’t, we’ll have to bomb them relentlessly.”

Meanwhile, Tehran has kept the door open for negotiations, with Foreign Ministry spokesman Ismail Baghaei confirming yesterday that “the American plan and proposal are still under review”, according to the Iranian Students' News Agency.

Separately, Shehbaz Sharif expressed hope that the “momentum” created by the suspension of military operations would help pave the way for a long-term agreement.

Since hostilities erupted on 28 February, Tehran has effectively closed the strategic Strait of Hormuz, through which around a fifth of global oil supplies and large volumes of liquefied natural gas normally pass.

The United States has imposed a blockade on Iranian ports since 13 April in response to Iran’s restrictions on maritime traffic and in an effort to increase economic pressure on Tehran and push it to accept American conditions.



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