Axios: US, Iran near “Islamabad agreement” as talks advance

The United States and Iran are close to signing a memorandum of understanding aimed at easing tensions and advancing negotiations on key bilateral issues, sources familiar with the discussions told Axios. 

The proposed document, informally referred to as the “Islamabad Agreement,” would reportedly allow the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz for international transit without fees and provide for a gradual easing of US sanctions in exchange for Iran meeting a series of commitments, sources told Axios correspondent Barak Ravid.

US President Donald Trump expects the agreement to be signed within days. The draft framework is said to include a 60-day extension of the current ceasefire and the launch of parallel negotiations on Iran’s nuclear programme.

The memorandum also reportedly contains provisions related to the monitoring of Iran’s enriched uranium stockpiles, sanctions policy, and oil exports. However, several contentious issues remain unresolved, including the future of Iranian assets frozen abroad.

Axios reported that mediation efforts by Qatar and Pakistan have intensified in recent days as negotiators seek to finalise the agreement. The report also claimed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not been briefed on the details of the discussions.

By Sabina Mammadli