Middle East Crisis Peace Talks

Iran: “Still Disagreeing on One or Two Points”

Iran is still at odds with the US over “one or two points” in the memorandum of understanding, the Iranian state news agency Tasnim reports, according to Sky News. The information is said to come from an Iranian official with insight into the negotiations.

It is still unclear which points the countries disagree on. Previously, the sticking point for Iran has been the demands to dismantle its nuclear energy program.

US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio said earlier on Sunday that a deal with Iran is close.

Trump: Peace deal with Iran complete – to be announced soon

The US and Iran have agreed on a peace deal that will be presented shortly. This is what President Donald Trump writes on Truth Social.

A spokesman for Iran's Foreign Ministry confirmed to several media outlets that the two countries are close to a final agreement covering 14 points.

According to New York Times sources, Iran has agreed to hand over its stocks of highly enriched uranium, something it had previously refused. However, exactly when and how will be the subject of continued broad negotiations on Iran's nuclear program.

According to Donald Trump, the agreement also means that the Strait of Hormuz will be opened. Sources to the New York Times say that Iran has also received promises, including that the blockade against the country will be lifted and that frozen Iranian assets will be released.

Lifting sanctions and ending the war in Lebanon - this is what sources say about the agreement

The new peace agreement between the US and Iran could be presented as early as Sunday, according to Axios sources.

This would mean that the current ceasefire would initially be extended by 60 days, while new negotiations on, among other things, Iran's nuclear program and the lifting of sanctions would begin.

During these 60 days, the US military would remain in the area, and would only withdraw if a "final" agreement could be reached later.

The agreement would also mean a new ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is said to have had objections to the agreement, but expressed them to Donald Trump in a "submissive" manner, according to a source.

The agreement between the US and Iran is said to be based on a principle of "relief for results", where parts of Iran's frozen assets could, for example, be unlocked in exchange for them showing that they are complying with other parts of the agreement.

Already in an initial stage, the agreement would mean that the Strait of Hormuz would gradually be opened to traffic and that Iran would commit to clearing the mines that had been placed there, according to sources. In exchange, the US will ease sanctions on Iranian oil sales.

However, according to Iranian state media, there are no plans from the Iranian side to relinquish control over the passage.

Analysis: Time is running out – a failed deal could lead to chaos

In anticipation of a peace deal between Iran and the US being presented, analysts have reviewed what has come out so far. Sally Lockwood, Middle East correspondent at Sky News, believes that the information that a deal may be close is a glimmer of hope, but that more and more cracks are already showing.

“There is a certain relief about the diplomatic attempts, but the parties still seem to be far apart,” she says in an interview.

Heather Stewart writes in The Guardian that the agreement is crucial as we approach a tipping point. She believes that the opening of the Strait of Hormuz and the return of Iranian oil to the market are of great importance so that energy markets do not end up in “what economists call nonlinear adjustment, which is nerd talk for chaos.”

“Delaying the agreements even a few more weeks could be disastrous,” she concludes.