citing a Middle Eastern diplomatic source, reported that the United States and Iran are discussing a plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz about 30 days after the two countries reached an agreement to end hostilities.
Earlier on Monday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ismail Baghaei said that results had been reached on several topics discussed within a possible memorandum of understanding with the United States, but this did not mean that Tehran was close to signing an agreement.
Baghaei added that Iran is negotiating to end the war and is not currently discussing nuclear issues, and reiterated that changes in the positions of American officials are creating obstacles to any agreement.
He continued: “It can be said that we have reached a conclusion on a large number of the issues under discussion,” but “it cannot be said that this means that an agreement is imminent.”
Baqaei announced that Tehran imposes fees for “navigational services” on ships crossing the Strait of Hormuz.
He said that “the services provided, which are navigational services in addition to the necessary measures to protect the environment of the Strait of Hormuz, the Gulf and the Sea of Oman, require the collection of certain fees.”
But he clarified that Iran “is not seeking to collect transit fees.”
An agreement is imminent despite dim hopes.
For its part, the United States confirmed on Monday that it was still close to reaching an agreement with Iran, after President Donald Trump the previous day dampened hopes for an imminent deal to end the war in the Middle East.
“We have, in my opinion, something solid on the table with regard to their ability to open the Strait of Hormuz,” said U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio from New Delhi.
Amid ongoing efforts to reach an agreement, President Donald Trump tempered optimism on Sunday, despite signs of progress expressed by both sides.
Trump wrote on Truth Social: “I have told my representatives not to rush into a deal, as time is on our side.”
He vowed to continue the US naval blockade of Iran “in full force until an agreement is reached, ratified and signed.”
The Axios website reported that the US presidency believes that Iranian authorities' approval of the agreement could take several days.
Rubio said Trump “is not in a hurry and will not make a bad deal.”
According to US media, the agreement being discussed between Tehran and Washington would allow ships to pass again through the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world's oil usually passed before the outbreak of the conflict.
Thanks to these hopes, oil prices fell on Monday morning in Asia, with Brent crude and West Texas Intermediate crude both dropping by more than 5% after 4:00 GMT.
nuclear file
CBS News quoted sources close to the negotiations as saying that the latest proposal also includes the release of some Iranian assets frozen in foreign banks.
But Iran’s Tasnim news agency said Sunday evening that Washington “is still obstructing some of the terms of the agreement, especially the release of frozen Iranian assets.”
Fars News Agency reported that sanctions on oil, gas and petroleum products will be temporarily lifted during the negotiations, allowing Iran to export these vital products to its economy.
But the agreement being discussed does not appear to resolve the issue of the nuclear program.
Marco Rubio told the New York Times: “Nuclear talks are very technical matters. A nuclear issue cannot be resolved in 72 hours.”
He added that after the Strait of Hormuz is reopened, negotiations will begin regarding uranium enrichment, noting a sixty-day deadline.
On the other hand, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that he agreed with Trump that any final agreement with Iran must “completely eliminate the nuclear threat.”
The Pakistani prime minister, who is mediating the negotiations, expressed hope that a new round would be hosted “very soon.” The previous round was held in Islamabad on April 11 but failed to produce an agreement.
