“US, Iran reach preliminary deal to limit uranium enrichment to 3.67%” ... Strait of Hormuz reopening and end of war move a big step closer

[Financial News] The United States and Iran are reportedly close to a preliminary agreement centered on limits to uranium enrichment and the release of frozen funds, raising expectations that efforts to end the war between the two countries and reopen the Strait of Hormuz will accelerate.
On the 9th (local time), major foreign media outlets, including Saudi Arabia’s state-owned Al Arabiya, reported, citing sources familiar with the matter, that the United States and Iran had entered full-scale negotiations under the mediation of Qatar and Pakistan.
The core of the negotiations is limiting Iran’s nuclear activities. According to sources, the United States proposed allowing Iran to enrich uranium within its borders to a maximum of 3.67%, and Iran agreed. At the same time, the United States is demanding that Iran dilute its stockpile of uranium, which it has already enriched to 60%, to lower its concentration again. The two sides are also positively discussing involving a third country to facilitate the process. The possible return of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors to Iran has also been raised at the negotiating table, but their specific mission and deployment size have yet to be determined.
Measures to ease military tensions and provide substantial economic compensation are also part of the proposal. If the two countries reach a final agreement, the United States is expected to release $6 billion–$9 billion (approximately 8 trillion–12 trillion won) in frozen Iranian funds. The US naval blockade of Iran would also be lifted immediately, and Iran would, in turn, reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery for global energy transportation.
The news of the preliminary agreement has drawn even more attention as it comes amid US President Donald Trump’s public expression of his desire to end the war. In an interview on the 9th with the US online outlet Axios, Trump said that, militarily, the war with Iran was “essentially over,” adding, “I hope we can reach an agreement with Iran.”
The United States and Iran previously signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on ending the war in June, mediated by Pakistan. However, after failing to bridge their differences over details including the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and nuclear issues, they resumed limited-scale armed clashes in July. Iran has maintained that if the United States meets its conditions for lifting sanctions and ending the naval blockade, it will reopen the Strait of Hormuz within two days and proceed with follow-up nuclear negotiations.


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