Iran clarifies nuclear talks as reports say missile issue is off the table

As U.S. President Donald Trump announced what he called an end to the war, Iranian news agency Mehr published what it described as new details on a memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran. According to that report, final talks between the two countries would focus on nuclear and economic issues, with no discussion of Iran’s ballistic missile program.

Mehr said the draft understanding includes U.S. commitments to lift sanctions, pull its forces back from near Iran, end the naval blockade, reopen the Strait of Hormuz, cancel oil sanctions and release frozen Iranian funds. Iran’s state news agency IRNA reported separately that Tehran would not have to hand over control of the strait, and that its future management would be handled as a regional issue through dialogue and joint decision-making between Iran and Oman.

CNN, citing a diplomatic source, reported that the agreement’s main points include a 60-day ceasefire on all fronts, including Lebanon, to begin when the deal is signed. It also said the Strait of Hormuz would open immediately without Iranian transit fees, oil and goods would move freely, and the U.S. naval blockade would be lifted. Iran would receive some sanctions relief depending on implementation progress and continued good-faith talks, but no deadline was set for removing sanctions.

The CNN report added that the agreement would satisfy all American demands on the nuclear issue, including an Iranian pledge not to seek nuclear weapons and arrangements for its stockpile of enriched uranium. The deal was also said to be named the “Islamabad Agreement.” After Trump said he was canceling planned overnight strikes on Iran, U.S. officials told Politico that leaders from Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Pakistan had made a last-minute effort to change his mind, telling him a preliminary deal was within reach. NBC said the strike was called off about three hours before it was due. Later, during a phone rally for Georgia’s lieutenant governor, Trump said, “I don’t know if you heard, but we ended the war with Iran today and they agreed they will never have nuclear weapons.” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei rejected the claim, calling reports of an end to the war “speculative” and saying, “Nothing has been agreed yet.”