Qatari negotiators travel to Tehran to finalize agreement between US and Iran
Qatar negotiators traveled to Tehran on Sunday morning (14) as part of efforts to finalize a deal that would end the war between the United States and Iran, a source with knowledge of the matter told Reuters.
Leaders of the United States and Pakistan projected that a framework agreement to end the conflict, which has lasted more than three months, could be signed this Sunday. However, Tehran has cast doubt on the timeline, while hard-line protesters in Iran have expressed opposition to the understanding.
In a subsequent update on Sunday morning, the Iranian news agency Fars reported, citing a source, that Tehran's final decision on the framework agreement with the United States is still under review.
Leaders of the United States and Pakistan planned to sign a framework agreement this Sunday to end months of fighting between the US and Iran. However, Tehran cast doubt on the timetable, while hard-line protesters in the country expressed opposition to the understanding.
US President Donald Trump published that the agreement with Iran was scheduled to be signed this Sunday, his 80th birthday. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Islamabad was preparing for an electronic signature, which would be followed by technical negotiations over the next week.
But Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei, quoted by state media before Trump's post, said on Saturday that the signing "will not be tomorrow" although it could take place "in the next few days."
Regarding the agreement, Iran's Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, stated on Friday that, although changes to the agreement are still possible, the preliminary understanding shows that the country has emerged stronger from the conflict.
Preliminary terms of the deal described to Reuters by multiple sources indicate that the US would begin releasing billions of dollars in frozen Iranian assets and lift sanctions on the country's oil exports in exchange for reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
Baghaei stated that the release of these frozen resources is an integral part of the agreement and that Tehran will need to charge for the use of the strait, according to the Fars agency.
The process of removing mines along the sea route would then begin, the authority added, indicating that G7 countries could participate in this stage.
Baghaei also stated that foreign military bases in the region should be closed, although without providing details.
The Iranian nuclear program would be discussed during a period of 60 days of negotiations. An American official stated that the agreement would ultimately lead to the dismantling of Iran's nuclear program, with the destruction and removal of its stockpile of highly enriched uranium.
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Source: CNN