Middle East Crisis Peace Talks

Iran confirms draft – refuses to finalize negotiations until blockade of Hormuz lifted

Iranian state media confirms that there is a draft peace agreement with the United States. The agreement includes American promises to lift oil sanctions and lift the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz within a month. At the same time, Iran states that important negotiations on its nuclear energy program remain, reports Reuters.

The final negotiations will not begin until half of the frozen assets have been released and the blockade at sea has been lifted, according to CNBC, which refers to the Iranian regime-controlled news agency Mehr.

Iran also demands that the United States present a financial plan for the reconstruction of the country and that all American forces withdraw.

The information about a possible peace agreement between the United States and Iran is very uncertain. Since the war began in February, the countries have repeatedly claimed that they are close to an agreement.

US Prepares Ceremony for Agreement in Switzerland

The US government is preparing for a possible agreement of understanding with Iran. According to Axios, four US government planes flew to Geneva, Switzerland, on Thursday. The planes were reportedly loaded with equipment needed to hold a possible peace ceremony as early as this weekend.

Vice President JD Vance has also reportedly freed up space in his schedule to quickly travel to Europe if the parties are ready to sign an agreement.

Over the past 24 hours, US President Donald Trump has both threatened to strike Iran's important oil industry and at the same time claimed that the countries have reached an agreement and that the conflict is over. However, Iran has downplayed Trump's statements.

Source: Countries may sign agreement in Geneva on Sunday

The US and Iran may travel to Geneva, Switzerland, to sign a memorandum of understanding, three sources with insight tell CNN. The signing could take place as early as Sunday, according to one of the sources.

The information comes after President Donald Trump once again said that an agreement is close. There are also signals from the Iranian side that the countries are starting to approach a first completed draft.

Geneva is a logistically suitable location for the US because Donald Trump is to participate in a G7 meeting in northern France next week.

Several sources say that the memorandum is called the “Islamabad Declaration”, referring to the central mediating role that Pakistan has played.