WASHINGTON; The United States approved a draft memorandum of understanding that Qatari mediators presented to Iran a day ago, sources familiar with the matter said on Tuesday.
“The mediation team briefed Saudi Arabia and the UAE on the memorandum, which they also approved,” the sources told Qatari newspaper Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.
The newspaper said Washington and Tehran have made concessions regarding Iran’s nuclear programme and frozen assets.
“Tehran will announce a concession on its nuclear programme in return for Washington announcing the release of part of Iran’s frozen assets,” the sources said, noting that the announcements would be made simultaneously.
Discussions are underway on arrangements for both sides to announce the agreement simultaneously, including initial steps and an interim deal that would pave the way for renewed negotiations.
Separately, Iran said that Washington’s response to its demands was “not convincing”, insisting that the Strait of Hormuz would reopen only after the US fulfilled seven Iranian conditions.
“The US response to Iran’s rights and demands was not convincing,” Supreme National Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei said on X.
“They must respond fully and explicitly to Iran’s seven conditions and fulfil them. Only then will the Strait of Hormuz be reopened,” he added.Tehran’s reported seven conditions include a ceasefire across the Middle East, the release of Iranian assets frozen abroad and the lifting of sanctions on Iran’s oil sector.
The demands also include ending the US naval blockade, paying war reparations, withdrawing US forces and ending threats and interference.
Tensions in the Middle East have remained high since the US and Israel launched attacks against Iran on February 28. Tehran retaliated by targeting Israel and US assets in the region before a ceasefire agreement was reached in April.
Washington and Tehran signed a memorandum of understanding on freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz on June 18, but its implementation stalled over disagreements concerning security in the strait.
Mediation efforts
Earlier, Qatar said the United States and Iran were committed to mediation efforts and were reviewing proposals aimed at bridging their differences.
