Washington and Tehran Negotiate a Three-Page Plan to End the War

SadaNews - The United States and Iran are engaged in intensive negotiations regarding a three-page plan aimed at ending the war, which includes a provision for the release of approximately $20 billion of frozen Iranian assets in exchange for Tehran giving up its stock of enriched uranium, according to American officials and sources familiar with the talks.

Assessments indicate gradual progress this week, despite significant gaps remaining between the two sides. If an agreement is reached in this format, it is expected to lead to the end of the war, but it may provoke sharp criticism from hardline factions regarding Iran within the United States.

U.S. President Donald Trump stated on Thursday that U.S. and Iranian negotiators might hold a second round of talks at the end of the week with the aim of finalizing the agreement, predicting that the meeting would take place in Islamabad next Sunday. Pakistan plays the role of the main mediator, supported behind the scenes by Egypt and Turkey.

Details of the Negotiations

The Trump administration is primarily seeking to ensure that Iran cannot access its buried nuclear stockpile in underground facilities, estimated at around 2,000 kilograms of enriched uranium, including about 450 kilograms enriched to 60%. In contrast, Iran is in need of financial resources, as the negotiations revolve around the fate of the nuclear stockpile and the amount of money to be released, in addition to potential restrictions on how those funds can be used.

Sources have revealed that Washington was previously willing to release $6 billion for humanitarian purposes including food and medicine, while Tehran demanded $27 billion. The $20 billion figure is the latest amount presented at the negotiation table.

One American official described the "money for uranium" idea as one of several proposals under discussion.

Dispute Over the Fate of Uranium

The United States has requested the full transfer of Iran's nuclear materials to its territory, while Tehran has only agreed to reduce the level of enrichment within Iran. A current compromise proposal involves transferring part of the highly enriched uranium to a third country, while reducing the enrichment of another portion inside Iran under international supervision.

The proposed memorandum includes a "voluntary" halt to uranium enrichment, with a U.S. demand for a 20-year freeze on enrichment in exchange for an Iranian proposal of just five years. It also allows Iran to have research reactors for producing medical isotopes. There is a commitment that all future nuclear facilities will be above ground, with current underground facilities taken out of service.

The memorandum also addresses the Strait of Hormuz, but significant disagreements remain about this issue. It is still unclear whether the negotiations will include Iran's ballistic missile program or its support for regional allies, which are issues advocated by Israel's allies and Republicans in Washington.

One American official confirmed that Iran "has moved in the negotiations, but not sufficiently," adding that Tehran seeks access to funds, an end to oil sanctions, and reintegration into the global financial system while simultaneously maintaining its nuclear capabilities. For her part, White House spokesperson Anna Kelly described the talks as "fruitful," emphasizing that Washington would not negotiate through the media.

Trump previously stated that Iran agreed during the negotiations to make a strong commitment not to develop nuclear weapons, adding: "We are very close to an agreement... and if it is not reached, fighting will resume." He also expressed his willingness to extend the ceasefire beyond its April 21 expiration date if necessary. Pakistani, Egyptian, and Turkish mediators are set to hold a quadrilateral meeting with Saudi officials on the sidelines of a diplomatic forum in Turkey to discuss efforts to reach a final agreement between Washington and Tehran.