US and Iran near deal: military threats and sanctions talks escalate simultaneously

## US-Iran Deal Talks Near Agreement US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told reporters on Thursday that the US and Iran are close to reaching an agreement to end the war, but President Trump has not yet approved it, and the White House expects a final plan that meets multiple core conditions. Bessent said at the White House: "We now have a basis for an agreement." He also revealed that the two sides have been exchanging proposals. "`It all depends on the president's decision`. President Trump will never accept an agreement that harms interests." Bessent stated that Iran must agree to dispose of highly enriched uranium, commit to never developing nuclear weapons, and fully restore navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. US officials previously said these terms would be included in the memorandum of intent. Earlier, US officials said the two countries were close to a 60-day agreement, which stipulates that both sides will gradually lift the blockade in the strait within the first 30 days. ## Framework and Iranian Demands If finalized, the deal would be the first step of a phased framework agreement. The US hopes to use this framework to push Iran to significantly scale back its nuclear program over the coming decades, including eliminating stocks of highly enriched uranium. Even if the US and Iran continue negotiations for at least two more months, this agreement will almost certainly force the Trump administration to partially adjust its combat objectives. Iran's semi-official Tasnim News Agency reported Thursday that Iran said the final text of the agreement has not yet been drafted. Tehran said that if an agreement is reached, it will be publicly announced by Pakistan, the main third-party mediator. Iran has put forward multiple demands: unfreezing assets seized overseas due to US sanctions, retaining its management rights over the Strait of Hormuz, including whether to charge transit fees to passing ships, and ensuring that this ceasefire also leads to a long-term truce in Lebanon. Iranian officials worry that Trump, influenced by Israel, might tear up the agreement. ## Trump Reiterates Military Threats and Economic Pressure Trump said at a Cabinet meeting Wednesday that he would not sign any agreement with Iran unless Arab countries like Saudi Arabia join the Abraham Accords (a series of normalization agreements with Israel). Despite the upcoming US midterm elections in November, Trump said he is not in a rush to finalize the deal. Trump has repeatedly threatened that `if Iran refuses to sign, the US will fully resume military strikes`, only to walk back his statements several times later. Bessent reiterated this threat on Thursday. US officials said Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has already endorsed the broad outlines of this framework agreement, but the final plan still requires his formal approval. Iranian officials have also recently stated that the agreement is near, while acknowledging that differences remain. ## Ongoing Conflict and Negotiation Progress The two countries have been in conflict for 39 days. Iran's military and leadership have suffered heavy blows, while Iran has attacked energy facilities in several Gulf states and blockaded the Strait of Hormuz — through which about one-fifth of the world's oil passes. Since early April, the US and Iran have maintained a fragile ceasefire aimed at ending the conflict completely, but international energy prices continue to rise, and the economies of Iran, the US, and the world have all felt significant impacts. This week, US and Iranian forces clashed twice. On Thursday, Iran fired a ballistic missile at Kuwait, which was successfully intercepted. The framework agreement outlines arrangements: both sides must lift their respective maritime blockades within 30 days and commit to ceasing hostilities; it also specifies phased benefits for Iran — it will first receive associated benefits from lifting the strait blockade, with further treatment if a comprehensive nuclear deal is reached later. The entire framework agreement is valid for 60 days and can be extended. ## Subsequent Sanctions Arrangements and External Concerns US officials said that over the next two months, the US will proceed in accordance with the agreement, gradually unfreezing Iran's frozen funds and considering easing some sanctions. A senior Trump administration official said these steps would be contingent on verification that Iran strictly observes the agreement's terms. Bessent said that `the US will continue to pursue comprehensive economic pressure policies against Iran` and announced sanctions on Iranian agencies responsible for managing navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. He also warned that if Oman assists in collecting transit fees from ships passing through the strait, the US will take action against it as well. If a comprehensive nuclear deal is ultimately reached, sanctions relief for Iran could surpass the 2015 nuclear agreement signed by former President Obama. That deal lifted most secondary sanctions but did not repeal core laws, meaning US banks, companies, and individuals were still barred from doing business with Iran. Some former US officials and experts are not optimistic about reaching a detailed final nuclear deal, arguing that Iran may not significantly reduce its nuclear program as the White House demands. This situation could leave Iran subject to broad US and international sanctions, while the US and its allies remain skeptical about the scale and pace of Iran's nuclear program. Currently, international inspectors have been unable to access most of Iran's key nuclear facilities. US officials said that Iran's complex decision-making system is a major obstacle to completing the final approval process for the agreement. In past matters involving national security and diplomacy with the US, the Supreme Leader has been deeply involved in consultations and decisions. However, Khamenei is reportedly in hiding, isolated from most of Iran's senior leadership, making it difficult to convey his position and adding variables to the negotiations. Iranian officials have repeatedly accused the White House of constantly changing negotiation terms and taking military action rashly during consultations. The negotiations are being facilitated by Pakistan, with the US also maintaining communication with regional allies including Israel and several Gulf states. ## Editor Editor: Chen Yujia