Fox News: US, Iran 95% close to framework nuclear agreement

The United States and Iran are close to reaching a framework agreement on Tehran’s nuclear programme, with negotiations now focused on final wording related to Iran’s nuclear stockpile and the Strait of Hormuz, officials told Fox News on May 24.

According to the officials, the agreement was “95% there,” although key details still needed to be finalized.

“We are not going to roll over. We are not there yet on a deal. We are not going to sign a deal today or tomorrow,” one official said, adding that Donald Trump’s “instinct is to give them 5, 6, 7 days” to complete the negotiations.

The official said the talks were being guided by a “No Dust, No Dollars” policy and confirmed that Iran had agreed “in principle to the framework, and we are 95% there.”

“We have a deal on the nuclear stockpile and the Strait of Hormuz but are negotiating language,” the official said, reiterating the administration’s “No Dust, No Dollars” approach.

“We have the opportunity to make a deal that will lower costs for Americans while ensuring the Iranians do not get a nuclear weapon,” the official added.

The official also warned that Washington was prepared to abandon negotiations if the terms were not satisfactory.

“We are not going to do a bad deal, that’s for sure. We have optionality and can resume military strikes if a deal is not reached,” the official said.

Trump instructed negotiators on May 24 “not to rush into a deal” and emphasised that “time is on our side.”

A day earlier, on May 23, Trump said a potential agreement with Iran — which he described as a “memorandum of understanding” — had been “largely negotiated.”

By Sabina Mammadli