U.S. President Bristles to Memorandum Language Perceived as Favouring Iran

Reuters

U.S. President Donald Trump.

Terms of a proposed memorandum to end the war in the Gulf outlined by Western, Pakistani and Iranian sources on Friday appeared to strongly favour Iran, drawing criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump, who called the reports inaccurate.

Versions and accounts of the memorandum were provided to Reuters by Western sources, sources from mediator Pakistan and senior Iranian sources. They were also published in Iranian media.

The sources ‌all stressed that the text was not yet final, with a Western source, an Iranian source and a Gulf source saying a key issue yet to be resolved was language on ceasing hostilities in Lebanon. Iran has demanded that Israel end a campaign against Iran's allies, the Hezbollah militia.

While there were minor differences in the accounts, all versions appeared to accept the principal terms proposed by Tehran two months ago during initial face-to-face negotiations, which had previously been repeatedly rejected by Washington.

In a post on social media, Trump did not say what was inaccurate in reports on the proposed deal, but said: "The terms that Iran leaked out to the Fake News have NOTHING to do with the terms that were agreed to, in writing."

"Very dishonorable people to deal with," he said of the Iranians.

Under the terms as described by the sources to Reuters, the United States would immediately provide Iran with billions of dollars in unfrozen assets and waive sanctions on its oil exports, in return ⁠for Iran lifting its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, largely closed since the war began.

Any discussion of key U.S. demands regarding Iran's nuclear programme would be set aside for later during a 60-day period of talks on a final settlement. The only explicit reference to nuclear policy for now would be a restatement of Iran's decades-old commitment not to seek nuclear weapons, first made when it ratified the U.N. Non-Proliferation Treaty in 1970.

Among the major U.S. concessions included in the drafts would be discussion of hundreds of billions of dollars in potential war reparations to Tehran, and the dropping of longstanding demands for curbs on Iran's missile programme.

Washington has previously demanded that Iran give up its stockpiles of highly enriched uranium. But none of the versions of the text reviewed by Reuters includes any mention of it, and the sources said the demand had been explicitly excluded for now.

A Western source said that if language can be agreed, the memorandum could be signed as soon as Sunday by U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Iran's parliament speaker, Mohammed Baqer Qalibaf, with Geneva for now seen as the likeliest venue.

Trump abruptly said on Thursday he was calling off bigger new strikes because the deal was now ready.

"We just made a great settlement of the war with Iran," Trump told reporters in the White House on Thursday.

"The strait will officially open as soon as we sign, which could be soon, very soon, maybe over the weekend in Europe," Trump said, adding that Vance would attend the deal signing. He did not elaborate.

Asked if Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei had approved the deal, Trump said, "I understand the answer is yes."

Source: Reuters



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