Contrary to media reports, Iran has denied claims that it will be handing over the weapons-grade uranium stockpile or relenting its stranglehold over the Strait of Hormuz as part of a deal being finalized with the United States.
Reuters reported Sunday morning that “Tehran has not agreed to hand over its highly enriched uranium stockpile,” quoting a “senior Iranian source.” Earlier, The New York Times wrote that Iran had “agreed to give up enriched uranium” as part of a deal.
“The nuclear issue will be addressed in negotiations for a final agreement and is therefore not part of the current deal. There has been no agreement over Iran’s highly enriched uranium stockpile to be shipped out of the country,” the Iranian official told Reuters.
The Iranian statement comes hours after President Donald Trump announced that a deal with Tehran had largely been negotiated. The initial agreement — yet to be signed — calls for opening the Strait of Hormuz and extending the ceasefire for two more months. Media reports suggest that Iran’s commitments are only verbal.
According to the Jerusalem Post, under a “Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) – labeled the ‘Islamabad Declaration,’ … both parties would sign would start a 60-day ceasefire extension, and would include the possibility of further talks and an extension during the two-month period.”
According to Israeli news reports, President Trump told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that under the final agreement, Iran would have to abandon its nuclear program and hand over its vast stockpile of enriched uranium. Israel’s Ynetnews reported:
U.S. President Donald Trump gave Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu assurances that he would not sign a final agreement with Iran unless Tehran dismantles its nuclear program and removes all enriched uranium from its territory, a senior Israeli official said on Sunday.The official said the United States is updating Israel on negotiations toward a memorandum of understanding to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and enter talks on a final agreement over unresolved issues. (…)According to the official, Netanyahu told Trump in a call Saturday night that Israel would preserve freedom of action against threats on all fronts, including Lebanon. Trump again backed that principle, the official said.
Iran also plans to keep its stranglehold over the Strait of Hormuz, news reports suggest.
The Iranian regime media is reporting that Tehran, while agreeing to allow the transit of ships to pre-war levels, would begin exerting the “new sovereignty” on the world’s key energy supply route.
According to Axios, the U.S. was willing to lift oil sanctions for the duration of the extended ceasefire if Iran opens the waterway. “During the 60-day period, the Strait of Hormuz would be open with no tolls and Iran would agree to clear the mines it deployed in the strait to let ships pass freely,” the news website reported. “In exchange, the U.S. would lift its blockade on Iranian ports and issue some sanctions waivers to allow Iran to sell oil freely.”
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