US, Iran ‘closing in on one-page memorandum to end war’, reports say

[0:00] The U.S. military operation to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz has been put on hold after just one day. [0:06] President Donald Trump says our Project Freedom will be paused to see whether an agreement with Iran can be finalized and signed. [0:14] Reports suggest Iran is reviewing a one-page memorandum of understanding to end the war [0:18] and set a framework for more detailed nuclear negotiations. [0:22] The deal would see the U.S. agreeing to the release of billions of dollars of frozen Iranian funds. [0:28] Several countries ask for the U.S. operation on the Strait of Hormuz to be halted, [0:31] including Pakistan, which is leading mediation efforts between Iran and the U.S. [0:36] Prime Minister Shabazz Sharif welcomed the decision and says it will go a long way towards advancing regional peace. [0:43] Now, these developments do come as Iran's Foreign Minister Basarak is holding talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing. [0:50] Trump is scheduled to visit next week. [0:53] The operation Epic Fury is concluded. We achieved the objectives of that operation. [0:58] I'm not going to, you know, we're not cheering for an additional situation to occur. [1:04] We would prefer the path of peace. [1:05] What the President would prefer is a deal. [1:08] He would prefer to sit down, work out a memorandum of understanding for future negotiations [1:11] that touches on all the key topics that have to be addressed, [1:14] a full opening of the straits so the world can get back to normal. [1:17] And he preferred that that be negotiated through the route that Steve and Jared have been working [1:20] and that all of us have been supporting. [1:22] That's the route he prefers. [1:23] That is so far not the route that Iran has chosen. [1:25] Rasul, any sort of, I suppose, reaction to this? [1:29] Any signs of diplomatic movement that you're hearing about to where you are? [1:35] Well, they haven't released any statement or official reaction to specifically what the [1:40] President of the United States has just posted. [1:43] However, here, so yes, the diplomacy is working. [1:47] So Iranians are confirming that now they have received the U.S. response to their 14 points [1:54] proposal. [1:55] And that proposal is in Tehran via Islamabad. [1:59] So the Iranian officials are still reviving it. [2:02] And soon that response, Iranian response, is going to be sent to the Americans via Islamabad. [2:07] Indeed, just yesterday, Minister Mutaqi, who is an MP in the parliament and also a former Iranian [2:15] foreign minister, he said in a two-day time, Iran's response is going to be sent to Islamabad [2:21] and they are going to convey that to Washington. [2:25] So this is the confirmed part. [2:27] And, of course, while Iranians are reviving it, they say one of their motive also is to [2:32] bridge the gap because there are fundamental differences in the positions of both, between [2:37] the positions of both countries. [2:39] So here, there are also Iranians are saying that what they are working on now is exclusively [2:46] and solely about the Strait of Hormuz and about lifting the blockade. [2:52] Anything else, whether it's Iran's nuclear program, Iran's missile program, or Iran's [2:59] regional security policies, its relations with the proxies, or its allies in the region, [3:05] non-state allies in the region, they say that these are off table. [3:09] So what Iranians are seeing, they say there is a three-phase proposal. [3:14] So in the first 30 days, so they're proposing Americans to only discuss and negotiate about [3:21] the Strait of Hormuz, the status of the Strait of Hormuz, the new regulations in the Strait [3:25] of Hormuz, lifting the blockade. [3:28] And if they agree on the main principles of this situation in the Strait of Hormuz and the [3:35] blockade in the 30 days, then they can move to the second phase. [3:40] And in the second phase, Iranians are saying they're ready to negotiate their nuclear file, [3:45] nuclear program. [3:46] And if that is also succeeded, if that is achieved, then in the third phase, Iranians [3:53] saying that that is not going to be about the USA, so it's going to be exclusively a strategic [3:58] dialogue and a security dialogue with the regional countries without the participation of the [4:04] United States. [4:04] So these are the confirmed points that Iranians are telling us. [4:08] And they say, well, the other issues, the points that are now being circulated through the media [4:16] that Iran is ready to sign a one-page memorandum of understanding with the United States that [4:23] its nuclear program is included, regional policies on it, they say that these are fabricated. [4:28] So solely at this stage, we are discussing the Strait of Hormuz and lifting the blockade. [4:33] And if we agree on that main principles, if we achieve a deal on this issue, then the [4:39] second phase will come, Iran's nuclear program. [4:42] And then in the third phase, we are ready to engage strategically with the regional countries. [4:48] However, while saying that, they're still saying that they have red lines and they will [4:52] not allow any situation or a pre-war situation in the Strait of Hormuz. [4:57] They say in any way, Iran is determined to keep its control over the Strait of Hormuz. [5:01] Rassoul, thank you. [5:04] Rassoul Sadat, joining us live from Tehran.