Trump says not to rush as US moves closer to possible Iran deal

CAIRO (AP) — The United States is close to reaching a deal with Iran that would end the war, reopen the Strait of Hormuz and see Iran give up its stockpiles of highly enriched uranium, regional officials told The Associated Press on Sunday, although U.S. President Donald Trump said he told representatives “not to rush into a deal.”

Trump said the negotiations were “proceeding in an orderly and constructive manner” and that the relationship with Iran was becoming “much more professional and productive.” He fended off criticism from some of his Republican colleagues who sought to take a tougher approach.

READ MORE: Trump says Iran deal, including opening of Strait of Hormuz, is ‘largely negotiated’

The deal would not be signed Sunday, according to a person familiar with the status of negotiations who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly. The parties seemed close to an agreement in recent weeks, only to falter.

Reopening the strait would ease a global energy crisis triggered by the U.S. and Israeli bombing of Iran on Feb. 28, which led Tehran to effectively close the waterway. Prices of oil, gas and related products have skyrocketed. Experts estimate it will take several weeks, if not months, for shipments and prices to recover once the strait reopens.

The United States has been blockading Iranian ports for more than a month, and Trump said the blockade “will remain in full force until an agreement is reached, certified and signed.”

Emerging deal would include Iran abandoning uranium

As part of the potential deal, Tehran would agree to give up its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, according to the two regional officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive negotiations.

An official with direct knowledge of the negotiations said that how Iran would give up uranium would be subject to further negotiations over a 60-day period. Part of it would likely be diluted, while the rest would be transferred to a third country, the official said. Russia offered to accept it.

A US official confirmed the 60-day deadline and said that if Iran did not abandon its stockpiles, there would be no sanctions relief. The official spoke on condition of anonymity about the emerging deal because it has not been made public.

Iran has 440.9 kilograms (972 pounds) of uranium enriched to 60% purity, a short technical step compared to weapons-grade levels of 90%, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency.

READ MORE: Trump says US will work with Iran to ‘dig up’ enriched uranium. Iran has not confirmed this

Iran has not publicly committed to giving up its uranium, a key Trump demand. President Masoud Pezeshkian told state television they were ready to “assure the world that we are not pursuing nuclear weapons.”

Iran has always insisted on the peaceful nature of its uranium enrichment program to a level close to that of a nuclear weapon, and claims its right to nuclear technology.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, during a visit to India, said that “significant progress, although not definitive, has been made” in the negotiations and that the world would no longer have to fear that Iran would acquire a nuclear weapon.

Rubio told India Today that the “first step” ahead would be the full reopening of the strait. “The second is that Iran must begin serious negotiations on three issues: its commitment to never possess nuclear weapons, long-term restrictions on its enrichment capabilities, and what to do with highly enriched uranium?”

Trump demanded greater concessions from Iran than those required by a 2015 Obama-era deal, from which the United States later withdrew under Trump.

On Saturday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei told the official news agency that there were “increasingly larger differences” between the Iranian and US positions, but that Iran was being cautious after being attacked twice last year during nuclear negotiations.

The strait would reopen and Iran could sell oil

Under the emerging deal, the Strait of Hormuz would gradually reopen in parallel with the United States lifting the blockade, the two regional officials and the U.S. official said. The U.S. official said the strait would be cleared of mines, although a U.S. official said Friday that the military had not found any mines there.

The United States would allow Iran to sell its oil by waiving sanctions, said the second official, who was briefed on the negotiations. Sanctions relief and the release of Iran’s frozen funds would be negotiated during the 60-day period, the official said.

READ MORE: US fires, neutralizes 2 more Iranian tankers as tensions rise in Strait of Hormuz

The two officials said the draft deal includes ending the war between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon, which began two days after the start of the war in Iran.

Twelve weeks have passed since the United States and Israel attacked Iran, killing its supreme leader and other top officials. A ceasefire has been in effect since April 7, although the sides have occasionally exchanged fire.

Israel remains concerned about Hezbollah

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a social media post that he and Trump agreed that “any final deal with Iran must eliminate the nuclear danger,” and that Trump had reaffirmed Israel’s right to defend itself “on all fronts, including in Lebanon.”

The U.S. official said the deal would guarantee Israel’s right to act against imminent threats in self-defense.

Israeli officials fear that Hezbollah remains a serious threat to Israel and that Lebanon is not equipped to disarm it.

A fragile U.S.-brokered ceasefire took effect in Lebanon on April 17, but fighting continues, mainly in the south. Hezbollah has launched daily drone and rocket attacks against Israeli forces and northern Israel, and Israel has struck targets across Lebanon while its troops remain present in large areas of the south.

More than 3,000 people have been killed in the latest fighting, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Health. Additionally, 22 Israeli soldiers and a defense contractor were killed in or near southern Lebanon, and two civilians were killed in northern Israel, according to Netanyahu’s office.

___

Superville reported from Washington and Lidman from Tel Aviv, Israel. Associated Press writers Aamer Madhani in Washington, Sheikh Saaliq in New Delhi and Munir Ahmed in Islamabad contributed to this report.

A free press is the cornerstone of a healthy democracy.

Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue.

Donate now

What Are The Main Benefits Of Comparing Car Insurance Quotes Online

LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2020, / Compare-autoinsurance.Org has launched a new blog post that presents the main benefits of comparing multiple car insurance quotes. For more info and free online quotes, please visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/the-advantages-of-comparing-prices-with-car-insurance-quotes-online/ The modern society has numerous technological advantages. One important advantage is the speed at which information is sent and received. With the help of the internet, the shopping habits of many persons have drastically changed. The car insurance industry hasn't remained untouched by these changes. On the internet, drivers can compare insurance prices and find out which sellers have the best offers. View photos The advantages of comparing online car insurance quotes are the following: Online quotes can be obtained from anywhere and at any time. Unlike physical insurance agencies, websites don't have a specific schedule and they are available at any time. Drivers that have busy working schedules, can compare quotes from anywhere and at any time, even at midnight. Multiple choices. Almost all insurance providers, no matter if they are well-known brands or just local insurers, have an online presence. Online quotes will allow policyholders the chance to discover multiple insurance companies and check their prices. Drivers are no longer required to get quotes from just a few known insurance companies. Also, local and regional insurers can provide lower insurance rates for the same services. Accurate insurance estimates. Online quotes can only be accurate if the customers provide accurate and real info about their car models and driving history. Lying about past driving incidents can make the price estimates to be lower, but when dealing with an insurance company lying to them is useless. Usually, insurance companies will do research about a potential customer before granting him coverage. Online quotes can be sorted easily. Although drivers are recommended to not choose a policy just based on its price, drivers can easily sort quotes by insurance price. Using brokerage websites will allow drivers to get quotes from multiple insurers, thus making the comparison faster and easier. For additional info, money-saving tips, and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ Compare-autoinsurance.Org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc. "Online quotes can easily help drivers obtain better car insurance deals. All they have to do is to complete an online form with accurate and real info, then compare prices", said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company. CONTACT: Company Name: Internet Marketing CompanyPerson for contact Name: Gurgu CPhone Number: (818) 359-3898Email: [email protected]: https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ SOURCE: Compare-autoinsurance.Org View source version on accesswire.Com:https://www.Accesswire.Com/595055/What-Are-The-Main-Benefits-Of-Comparing-Car-Insurance-Quotes-Online View photos