Iran deal ‘very close’ but not at finish line, senior US official says

WASHINGTON — A senior administration official said Friday that a deal with Iran to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz could be signed within days, downplaying concerns that Tehran would reap immediate economic gains from the emerging agreement.

“We're not quite at the finish line yet, but we are very close," the official said in a call with reporters, putting the administration's confidence that a deal is imminent at 80-85%.

Both Iran and mediator Pakistan have indicated that the two sides are nearing an agreement. In a social media post Friday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said a deal has "never been closer." Esmaeil Baghaei, spokesperson for Iran’s Foreign Ministry, later said the “relevant Iranian bodies” were meeting to discuss the text after the United States and Iran reached an understanding on “most issues.” Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif posted that “a final, agreed upon text of the peace deal has been reached."

The senior US official laid out the so-called memorandum of understanding's terms, which include Iran reopening the Strait of Hormuz and the United States lifting its naval blockade. Once signed, the MoU would trigger a 60-day period for technical negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program, including its stockpile of highly enriched uranium.

The official denied that Tehran would receive any of its frozen assets merely for signing the agreement, as reported by Iranian state media.

“The Iranians don't get anything upon the signing of the MoU,” the official said. “Their benefits under the deal only come when they actually perform what they're supposed to perform.”

The memorandum of understanding also includes a “commitment” from Iran to dismantle its nuclear weapons program and decommission its nuclear facilities, the official said.

Analysts say Iran is unlikely to ever fully give up its nuclear capabilities because it views enrichment as a source of national pride and bargaining power. Tehran has long insisted that its nuclear program exists for peaceful purposes only, although it has enriched uranium to levels that far exceed what is required for nuclear energy production.

“They are committing indefinitely to not build or procure a nuclear weapon, and then we're going to have to figure out exactly how we enforce that,” the official said.

The senior US official did not confirm whether the United States expected Israel to refrain from military action in Lebanon once the memorandum of understanding takes effect. Iran has insisted that a ceasefire with the US include Lebanon. Israel continued to strike Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon on Friday despite a US-brokered ceasefire between the two countries.

“I would sort of put it back on Hezbollah and on the Iranians,” the official said. “If Hezbollah is firing rockets at Israel, and you know Iran is paying for missiles that are getting launched into Israel, then obviously, they haven't kept their end of the bargain.”

This developing story has been updated since initial publication.