Hormuz Is the Biggest Issue... U.S. Says It Will Be Open, Iran Says It Will Be Under Its Control

As the U.S. and the Islamic Republic of Iran move closer to a final agreement, attention is focusing on how they will handle the key sticking points. The two sides still disagree over passage through the Strait of Hormuz, but they are said to have reached some common ground on denuclearization and the removal of nuclear material.
■ Dispute over control of the Strait of Hormuz
Axios reported on the 23rd local time, citing a government official, that it had obtained a draft of a 60-day ceasefire extension memorandum of understanding between the two sides, and claimed that the document mentioned the Strait of Hormuz. The draft reportedly states that the Strait of Hormuz would remain open for 60 days without tolls and that the Islamic Republic of Iran would agree to remove mines to ensure safe passage. In return, the U.S. would lift sanctions on the strait and nearby Iranian ports and allow the Islamic Republic of Iran to sell oil freely. A U.S. government official said the administration understands that the move would greatly benefit the Iranian economy, but would also significantly help the global oil market. The official explained that the faster the Islamic Republic of Iran clears the mines, the faster the U.S. will lift the blockade. According to the official, the Islamic Republic of Iran had sought the release of frozen overseas funds and permanent sanctions relief in the talks, but the U.S. stressed that any deal must include meaningful concessions.
U.S. President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social the same day that, "In addition to many other elements of the agreement, the Strait of Hormuz will be open." However, Fars News Agency, an Iranian semi-official outlet, said Trump’s remarks were "incomplete and not consistent with reality." The outlet emphasized that, according to documents recently exchanged between the two sides, the Islamic Republic of Iran will manage the Strait of Hormuz going forward. On the same day, Esmail Baghaei, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, also claimed that the two sides were close to an agreement, but drew a firm line on the Strait of Hormuz, saying it had "nothing to do with the U.S." He stressed that passage through the strait is "a matter between us and the coastal states. We are strengthening cooperation with Oman on the Strait of Hormuz issue."
■ It appears the parties have agreed on giving up nuclear material
Axios also claimed on the 23rd that the MOU draft included a pledge by the Islamic Republic of Iran not to pursue nuclear weapons, as well as a commitment to halt uranium enrichment and take part in talks on disposing of highly enriched uranium. Officials said the Islamic Republic of Iran had verbally conveyed, through the mediator, how far it was willing to compromise on issues such as suspending enrichment and giving up nuclear material.
Before U.S. strikes on its nuclear facilities last year, the Islamic Republic of Iran held 440 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60% purity. Uranium enriched to more than 90% can be used as material for a nuclear bomb. Earlier, the U.S. demanded that the Islamic Republic of Iran remove all of its highly enriched uranium from the country and refrain from uranium enrichment for the next 20 years.
The New York Times (NYT) reported on the 23rd, citing officials, that the U.S. had demanded the Islamic Republic of Iran give up its highly enriched uranium and that Tehran had accepted the demand. However, U.S. officials said the details of how Iran’s uranium stockpile would be handled had not yet been finalized, and that the issue would be addressed in later negotiations on the country’s nuclear program.
According to the report, the Islamic Republic of Iran strongly rejected the demand, viewing the surrender of enriched uranium as a national "capitulation." But the U.S. negotiating team, through the mediator, pressured Tehran by saying it would walk away from the talks and resume military operations if there were no initial agreement on the uranium stockpile.
pjw@fnnews.com Park Jong-won Reporter