President Donald Trump has insisted there is “no rush” in negotiations with Iran amid speculation over the details of an emerging deal.
Talks involving US and Islamic Republic negotiators are reportedly working towards an agreement.
Points under discussion are said to include a 60-day extension to the current ceasefire, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and a plan for further discussion of Iran’s nuclear programme.
The plan is also said to include a ceasefire in the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militia in Lebanon.
On Monday, American secretary of state Marco Rubio said while on a visit to India that the talks have yielded “a pretty solid thing on the table”, while adding: “We’re still a work in progress.”
What was originally a two-week ceasefire has been in place since April 8 and has been repeatedly extended.
There has been repeated talk of a breakthrough in negotiations, but US forces continue to maintain a vast naval presence in the area, blockading Iran and ready to resume war if talks break down altogether.
On Saturday, Trump posted: “The negotiations are proceeding in an orderly and constructive manner, and I have informed my representatives not to rush into a deal in that time is on our side.
“The Blockade will remain in full force and effect until an agreement is reached, certified, and signed.”
He added: “I would like to thank, thus far, all of the countries of the Middle East for their support and cooperation, which will be further enhanced and strengthened by their joining the Nations of the historic Abraham Accords and, who knows, perhaps the Islamic Republic of Iran would like to join, as well!”
Iranian state media have disputed some of Trump’s statements about an emerging deal.
The Fars news agency said in particular that suggestions that the Islamic Republic would give up control of the Strait of Hormuz were "inconsistent with reality".
At the heart of the negotiations are questions over what will happen to the Iranian nuclear programme and in particular an estimated 440kg of uranium enriched to 60 per cent purity – worryingly close to the 90 per cent required for an atomic bomb.
It remains unclear as to how Tehran will hand over this material if it does agree, and what provisions will remain in place to police any promise to renew the programme to develop a nuclear weapon.
The Islamic republic has previously denied any plan not to build an atomic bomb, claiming its research and development are purely for civilian purposes.
Trump has made a firm commitment to Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to stop Iran developing a nuclear capability, according to an Israeli official speaking to the Times of Israel.
The official said the US president “clarified that he will stand firm in the negotiations on his longstanding demand for the dismantlement of Iran’s nuclear program and the removal of all enriched uranium from Iranian territory, and that he will not sign a final agreement without these conditions being met”.
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