Draft U.S.-Iran Deal Could Lift Sanctions and Leave Missile Talks Aside

A report by the Iranian news agency Mehr says a draft memorandum of understanding between Iran and the United States would commit Washington to lifting sanctions, pulling back American forces deployed around Iran, and ending the naval blockade. The reported terms also include reopening the Strait of Hormuz, removing sanctions on Iranian oil exports, and releasing frozen Iranian funds.

According to the report, the next phase of talks would focus only on nuclear and economic issues, while Iran’s missile program would stay off the table. Mehr stressed that the document is still only a draft and must be approved by authorized officials on both sides.

Separately, Politico reported that shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to strike Iran "with great force tonight," leaders of Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Pakistan urged him not to escalate further. They reportedly told Trump that an initial deal between Washington and Tehran was within reach and that the diplomatic track deserved another chance.

U.S. officials told Politico that Trump was persuaded real progress had been made and decided to suspend strike plans. He later wrote on Truth Social that an agreement could be signed as soon as this weekend. In Tehran, Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei offered a more cautious assessment, saying much of the draft had been completed but Iran would not compromise on its "red lines," and no final decision has been made.