The fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran remains under pressure after an overnight exchange of fire, though US President Donald Trump has insisted that the truce is still in effect.
According to CNN International, Washington appears ready to make concessions in an effort to secure a diplomatic way out of a conflict that has proved more complex than initially expected.
At the centre of the talks is a one-page, 14-point memorandum being discussed by Trump’s envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, and Iranian officials, both directly and through mediators. In its current form, the document provides for the formal end of the war in the region and the start of a 30-day negotiating period.
From ending Iran’s nuclear programme to freezing it
One of the main points under discussion concerns Iran’s nuclear programme. While Washington’s original position focused on halting the programme, the proposal now being considered appears to centre on a moratorium.
The 14-point text reportedly provides for a period of negotiations during which Iran’s nuclear programme would be frozen for a specified period. US officials are said to be seeking a freeze of at least ten years, along with the handover of Iran’s existing stockpile of highly enriched uranium.
The removal of highly enriched uranium from Iran is also on the table, according to two sources familiar with the negotiations. This remains a key US priority, but Tehran has so far rejected the demand.
One option being discussed would involve transferring the material to the United States, although it remains unclear whether Iran would accept such a condition.
Phased easing in the Strait of Hormuz
Another critical part of the proposed deal concerns the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy shipping routes.
According to a US official, restrictions imposed by Iran on navigation, as well as the US naval blockade, would be gradually lifted during the 30-day negotiation period.
Washington, however, is reportedly seeking to maintain leverage over Tehran. The same official said that if talks collapse, US forces would be able to reinstate the blockade or resume military action.
Regime change no longer on the table
Regime change also appears to have been removed from the agenda. Earlier in the war, Trump had addressed the Iranian people in terms that suggested they should take control of their government and their future.
That rhetoric pointed to a possible strategy of political upheaval in Tehran. The current discussions, however, appear to have shifted away from the fate of Iran’s leadership and towards the terms under which its nuclear programme could be restricted.
Sanctions and frozen funds
Among the incentives Washington could offer Tehran are sanctions relief and the release of billions of dollars in frozen Iranian funds.
That would mark a significant concession, as sanctions have for years been one of the main US tools of pressure against Iran. Even partial relief would give Tehran economic breathing room and could be presented domestically as a political gain.
The discussions also appear to include an end to restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz, suggesting that the proposed agreement goes beyond the nuclear issue and touches directly on global energy security.
A deal to manage the crisis
Trump’s apparent willingness to retreat from some of his earlier demands suggests that he is seeking to end the war as quickly as possible.
A ten-year freeze of Iran’s nuclear programme, the handover of highly enriched uranium and de-escalation in the Strait of Hormuz would all be major developments if agreed.
The political challenge for Trump is that he had set a much higher bar. He had spoken of unconditional surrender, permanent prevention of a nuclear weapon, regime change and an end to Iranian influence through proxy groups.
The agreement now being discussed appears to fall short of that framework. Rather than a strategic reshaping of the region, it looks more like a crisis-management deal, and that could carry political costs for the US president.
Source: cnn.gr
