US President Donald Trump speaks during a cabinet meeting in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington, DC. AFP
“Iran must agree that they will never have a Nuclear Weapon or Bomb,” Trump wrote in a social media post.
“The Hormuz Strait must be immediately open, no tolls, for unrestricted shipping traffic, in both directions,” he added.
Trump said all water mines, “if any,” would be removed or detonated, adding that “Iran will complete the immediate removal and/or detonation of any mines that are left, which will not be many!”
He also said ships caught in the strait because of what he called “our amazing and unprecedented Naval Blockade” could begin “heading home.”
“The enriched material, sometimes referred to as ‘Nuclear Dust,’” Trump said, would be “unearthed by the United States” in coordination with Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency, “and DESTROYED.”
“No money will be exchanged, until further notice,” Trump said. “Other items, of far less importance, have been agreed to.”
“I will be meeting now, in the Situation Room, to make a final determination,” he added.
The post came after Axios reported that US and Iranian negotiators had reached a preliminary 60-day memorandum of understanding to extend the ceasefire and launch talks on Iran’s nuclear programme, pending final approval from Trump and Iran’s leadership.
Iran, however, has not confirmed any final agreement. An informed source told Iran's semi-official Tasnim News Agency on Friday that the text of a possible memorandum of understanding between Tehran and Washington had not yet been finalized, dismissing alleged drafts published by Western media outlets as inaccurate.
The possible agreement comes after 12 weeks of war that have disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, roiled energy markets, exposed Washington’s Gulf Arab allies to Iranian retaliation, and allowed Israel to expand its onslaught in Lebanon.
* This story was edited by Ahram Online
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