US Intelligence Casts Doubt on Iran’s Willingness to Make Nuclear Concessions

CIA Director John Ratcliffe told President Donald Trump and other senior officials that intelligence gathered by U.S. agencies raises serious doubts about whether Iran is prepared to make the nuclear concessions Washington wants in any final deal, Axios reported, citing three people familiar with the discussions.

A senior White House official said on Monday evening that the United States and Iran had signed a memorandum of understanding, adding that only in the next two to three weeks would it be possible to tell whether it will become a real agreement. He said the principles of the deal would be published within 48 hours, with technical talks to follow later this week.

According to the official, the framework includes sanctions relief, the release of funds, and the creation of a $300 billion fund. “Everything will depend on Iran’s performance and its responsiveness,” he said.

Trump wrote on his social network on Monday that the naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz had been lifted as part of the agreement. “Ships are allowed to move through the Strait of Hormuz, many of them carrying oil,” he said. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said at a press conference the same day, amid the emerging deal, that “Iran will not have nuclear weapons, with or without an agreement, not today and not tomorrow. As long as I am prime minister of Israel, that will not happen.”