Iran: Negotiation text with the US largely complete according to Foreign Ministry – spokesperson criticizes shifting US positions

Status of the negotiations

According to information from Tehran, the draft is a 14-point document. It is said to have the character of a framework agreement and form the basis for further talks between the US and Iran. The Iranian news agency Tasnim also reported overnight from Thursday to Friday that the agreement has not yet been finally confirmed.

US President Donald Trump signaled on Thursday that a swift framework agreement with Iran was within reach. Against this backdrop, the Iranian side had also spoken at times of a possible, imminent conclusion of the negotiations. The discrepancy between the textual situation described as largely complete and the formal confirmation still outstanding shapes current reporting.

Content of the draft and the role of the Strait of Hormuz

In terms of content, the agreement could provide, among other things, for the full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, according to available information. The strait is a central trade route; an opening would therefore be of considerable economic significance. Concrete details on the remaining 13 points were not given in the reports available so far.

According to information from Islamabad, the negotiations are also being conducted through intermediary channels. Pakistan is reportedly acting as a mediating state in the process. The dpa-AFX news agency distributed the report; the report was composed in Tehran, which is also reflected in the dateline of the dispatch.

Mistrust and shifting positions

Baghaei explicitly linked his statement on the maturity of the text with criticism of a lack of reliability on the US side. If the US continues to change its positions, a consensus already reached would be at risk of unraveling again, was the tenor of the statement. Observers see this formulation as Tehran's attempt to protect itself against a possible collapse of the negotiations.

Tasnim pointed out in its overnight report that a final confirmation of the agreement is still pending. It therefore remains unclear whether and when the draft will actually be signed or in what form it will be presented to the public. As long as there is no official confirmation, the previous positions of both sides essentially remain valid.

Outlook

Overall, the reporting paints a picture of a negotiation process in which the substance of the agreement – the 14-point text – is largely in place, but the political will to sign still appears fragile. The coming days will show whether the US and Iran will formally seal the framework agreement or whether further shifts in position will delay the negotiations once again.

For the region, a successful conclusion would have immediate economic consequences, in particular through the possible reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. A framework agreement between Washington and Tehran would also be a signal with considerable reach for the broader diplomatic situation in the Near and Middle East.