A potential U.S.-Iran war deal is moving from broad claims into specific reported terms, with new details now emerging on Iran’s enriched uranium, sanctions relief, the Strait of Hormuz and the Israel-Hezbollah front.
That is the fresh angle. List25 already covered President Donald Trump’s claim that a peace framework was “largely negotiated” and would reopen Hormuz. The new development is that officials and regional reporting are starting to outline what the framework may actually contain, while Washington and Tehran still stop short of saying the deal is finished.
The Associated Press reported Sunday that Secretary of State Marco Rubio said “significant progress, although not final progress, has been made” in negotiations over Iran. Rubio made the comment in New Delhi during talks with Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.
What the Draft Deal Could Include
According to AP, two regional officials said the potential deal would include Iran’s commitment not to pursue a nuclear weapon and Tehran’s agreement to give up its stockpile of highly enriched uranium. One official with direct knowledge of the negotiations said the exact handling of that uranium would be negotiated over a 60-day period.
That official said part of the uranium could be diluted, while another portion could be transferred to a third country, potentially Russia. AP also cited International Atomic Energy Agency figures showing Iran has 440.9 kilograms, or 972 pounds, of uranium enriched up to 60% purity. That is below weapons-grade level, but close enough to keep the nuclear issue at the center of the talks.
The Hormuz piece is just as important. AP reported that the Strait of Hormuz would gradually reopen in parallel with the United States ending its blockade of Iranian ports. A second official briefed on the negotiations said the U.S. would allow Iran to sell oil through sanctions waivers, while broader sanctions relief and the release of frozen Iranian funds would be negotiated during the same 60-day window.
Hezbollah and Lebanon Are Now Part of the Equation
The reported framework also reaches beyond Iran itself. AP said both officials described a draft deal that includes an end to the Israel-Hezbollah war and a commitment not to interfere in the domestic affairs of countries in the region.
That could become one of the hardest pieces to sell. Israeli officials remain concerned that Hezbollah still poses a serious threat from Lebanon. AP reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Trump that Israel would maintain freedom of action against threats, including in Lebanon. Another official familiar with the conversation said Trump made clear he would not sign a final agreement unless Iran dismantles its nuclear program and removes all enriched uranium from the country.
Iran Signals Caution
Al Jazeera reported Sunday that Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, whose country has been mediating the talks, said the next round of U.S.-Iran negotiations would happen “very soon.” Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also said “meaningful progress” had been achieved.
But Tehran is not treating the framework as a done deal. Al Jazeera reported that Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei acknowledged a “trend towards rapprochement” with Washington but warned that it does not necessarily mean the two sides will reach agreement on the important issues. Iran’s Fars News Agency also pushed back on parts of Trump’s version, saying the draft would leave Iran in charge of the strait and calling some U.S. claims inconsistent with reality.
Al Jazeera’s reporting from Tehran described a “cloud of mistrust” around the talks. That phrase captures the state of play: the outline is more detailed than it was a day ago, but the political distance between the parties remains real.
Why This Matters Now
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important energy chokepoints. Any credible path to reopening it could ease pressure on oil markets and Gulf shipping. But the latest reporting also shows why the deal is fragile. It ties together nuclear concessions, sanctions relief, frozen funds, port access, oil exports, Lebanon and Israel’s security demands.
For now, the strongest factual read is this: negotiators appear closer to a framework than they were last week, but there is still no final agreement. Rubio’s “significant progress” line matters because it confirms momentum. His “not final progress” caveat matters just as much.