Nuclear weapon, enriched uranium and Hormuz: Details of US-Iran deal emerge

Summary

US President Donald Trump on Sunday said that Washington and Iran have “largely negotiated” a deal and a memorandum of understanding is expected to reach to reopen the Strait of Hormuz as expectations rose that a turning point is imminent in the nearly three-months old conflict in West Asia. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is on a visit to India, discussed the truce talks and noted that “significant progress, although not final progress has been made” in the negotiations. Rubio told reporters that he hoped there would be good news in the coming hours, AP reported. Regional diplomacy and final negotiations On Saturday, Trump announced that he had spoken with leaders from Bahrain, Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey and separately with Israel. In a post on social media, the US president, without elaborating details, informed that “Final aspects and details of the deal are currently being discussed, and will be announced shortly.” The deal between Washington and Tehran to halt the conflict in West Asia is poised to include Iran’s commitment that it won’t pursue a nuclear programme and agree to handover the highly enriched uranium to the American authorities, two regional officials told Associated Press. A US official told Axios that the deal is expected to include a 60-day ceasefire extension wherein Hormuz, the critical waterway which is responsible for 20 percent of global oil supply, will be reopened and Tehran will be allowed to sell oil freely through sanctions waiver and talks would be held regarding Iran’s nuclear programme. An official, who had direct information related to the negotiations, said that how Iran will give up its highly enriched uranium is a subject of further discussions which could happen in the 60-days extended truce period. The official added that a part of the amount is likely to be diluted, while the rest would be transferred to a third country, potentially Russia, AP reported. Story continues below this ad Addressing enriched Uranium and frozen assets The 441 kilograms of Uranium, which Iran possesses, has been enriched to a 60 percent purity which is just short of 90 percent, required for nuclear weapons grade level, the International Atomic Education Agency (IAEA) said. The deal could also include the US military ending its blockade of Iranian ports. The release of Iran’s frozen assets is expected to be negotiated in the 60 day ceasefire extension, reports stated. The Express Global Desk at indianexpress.com which delivers authoritative, verified, and context-driven coverage of key international developments shaping global politics, policy, and migration trends. The desk focuses on stories with direct relevance for Indian and global audiences, combining breaking news with in-depth explainers and analysis. A major focus area of the desk is US immigration and visa policy, including developments related to student visas, work permits, permanent residency pathways, executive actions, and court rulings. The Global Desk also closely tracks Canada’s immigration, visa, and study policies, covering changes to study permits, post-study work options, permanent residence programmes, and regulatory updates affecting migrants and international students. All reporting from the Global Desk adheres to The Indian Express’ editorial standards, relying on official data, government notifications, court documents, and on-record sources. The desk prioritises clarity, accuracy, and accountability, ensuring readers can navigate complex global systems with confidence. Core Team The Express Global Desk is led by a team of experienced journalists and editors with deep expertise in international affairs and migration policy: Aniruddha Dhar – Senior Assistant Editor with extensive experience in global affairs, international politics, and editorial leadership. Nischai Vats – Deputy Copy Editor specialising in US politics, US visa and immigration policy, and policy-driven international coverage. Mashkoora Khan – Sub-editor focusing on global developments, with a strong emphasis on Canada visa, immigration, and study-related policy coverage. ... Read More