By Zoila Palma: The United States and Iran have announced a preliminary agreement aimed at ending the war, with both countries expected to sign a memorandum of understanding in Switzerland on Friday, Reuters report.
Mediator Pakistan said the agreement includes an immediate and permanent end to all military operations. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said both sides had agreed to halt hostilities, while Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said the memorandum would be made public after signing.
A key component of the deal involves reopening the Strait of Hormuz and easing restrictions on Iranian ports.
U.S. President Donald Trump said the strategic waterway would reopen on Friday and that he had ordered the lifting of the U.S. blockade on Iranian ports. An Iranian official said the strait would be reopened to all commercial vessels once the agreement is signed, while Iran’s Fars news agency reported that marine traffic would be regulated by Iran in coordination with Oman.
The memorandum also outlines steps regarding Iran’s nuclear program. Both sides stated that Iran has agreed not to produce or acquire nuclear weapons, a position Tehran has maintained for years. According to an Iranian official, Iran will freeze its nuclear activities, including uranium enrichment and the expansion of nuclear facilities, until a final agreement is reached. The official also said the United States agreed that Iran could dilute its stockpile of highly enriched uranium within Iran under a future comprehensive deal.
Negotiations on more contentious issues, including Iran’s nuclear program and U.S. sanctions, are expected to continue over the next 60 days. Iranian officials said Washington agreed not to impose new sanctions during that period and could waive oil sanctions temporarily. They also claimed the United States would release $25 billion in frozen Iranian assets and work with regional allies on a reconstruction and development plan for Iran. Trump, however, said Iran would not receive cash payments, though sanctions relief could be considered.
The agreement also addresses the situation in Lebanon. Sharif said the immediate and permanent cessation of military operations would extend to Lebanon, a position echoed by Iran’s Supreme National Security Council. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi called for a complete halt to Israeli attacks on Lebanon and said the United States bears responsibility for implementing the framework agreement. However, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz stated that Israeli forces would remain in security zones captured in Lebanon, Syria and Gaza, while Trump said there should be no further attacks between Israel and the Iran-backed group Hezbollah.
The post International News: U.S., Iran announce preliminary deal to end war appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Zoila Palma: The United States and Iran have announced a preliminary agreement aimed at ending the war, with both countries expected to sign a memorandum of understanding in Switzerland on Friday, Reuters report. Mediator Pakistan said the agreement includes an immediate and permanent end to all military operations. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said
The post International News: U.S., Iran announce preliminary deal to end war appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.