Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced on Friday that the United States and Iran have agreed to the wording of a deal aimed at ending their war in the Middle East. Sharif stated that the US and Iran have reached a ‘final, agreed upon text’ and that mediators are working with both sides to finalize the agreement.

Background of the Conflict

The war between the US and Iran has been ongoing since February 28, causing significant disruptions to oil and natural gas shipments from the Persian Gulf. A fragile ceasefire has been in place since April 7. The conflict has also involved Israel, which has been fighting the Iranian-allied militia Hezbollah in Lebanon since early March.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Friday that an agreement ‘has never been closer.’ US President Donald Trump shared Araghchi’s post on his social media, indicating a sense of optimism about the negotiations.

Terms of the Agreement

Araghchi stated that the initial agreement will declare an end to the war ‘on all fronts, including Lebanon.’ The terms dealing with Iran’s nuclear program will be finalized within 60 days after the initial agreement is signed. The US has expressed concerns that Iran’s nuclear program could lead to the development of an atomic weapon.

A senior US administration official said that the emerging agreement will begin the process of destroying or removing Tehran’s highly enriched uranium. The official also stated that the 60-day period after both sides sign the deal will be used to work out technical details for removing Iran’s enriched uranium.

The agreement is also expected to include the phased lifting of sanctions on Iran and the release of frozen Iranian assets. Officials expect a signing ceremony for the agreement in the coming days after officials in Washington and Tehran approve it.

Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.