A senior Trump administration official outlined the key components of a proposed agreement with Iran on Friday, marking a significant shift in U.S.-Iran relations.
The official detailed the framework during a call with reporters, describing elements that would represent a departure from the 2015 nuclear agreement that Trump withdrew from during his first term. Iran’s Foreign Minister said Friday that a memorandum of understanding has “never been closer” to completion.
What the Proposed Deal Includes
According to the administration official, the agreement would reopen the Strait of Hormuz and end the U.S. naval blockade. The deal would also lead to “the dismantling of the Iranian nuclear program” and “leads to the United States getting the enriched [nuclear] material” that would then be destroyed and removed from the country, the official said.
An inspection regime would be established to ensure “long-term commitment” and enforceability, according to the administration official. A 60-day window for further technical negotiations on remaining points of contention has also been included in the framework.
Economic Incentives and Conditions
Iran would receive economic rewards if it meets its obligations under the agreement. “If they comply, they’re going to be relieved of a lot of the economic pressures that they’ve been under for many, many years, so they do get reintegrated into the world economy,” the administration official said.
The official emphasized that Iran would receive no sanctions relief or financial benefits upfront. Economic rewards would only come if Iran fulfills its commitments, though the official declined to specify the scale of potential relief.
Iran’s Internal Alignment
A senior administration official indicated that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei has approved the agreement’s framework. However, the official cautioned that U.S. officials have not independently verified this and “cannot say with certainty that final authorization has been granted.”
“Really, all we can take is the people, both on the civilian and military side, both of whom have attested that the supreme leader is comfortable with where we are in the negotiation,” the official said. The official noted that internal divisions exist within Iran’s government, with some hardliners opposing the deal while others support it.
The administration official estimated an 80 to 85 percent chance the memorandum of understanding will be signed in the near term, adding that most negotiators with authority in the Iranian system “want to sign this deal.”
This story has been updated. CNN’s diplomatic team contributed to this report.
