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As the United States awaits Tehran's latest response to a draft peace agreement exchanged through intermediaries, negotiations to end the US-Iran war hinge on two unresolved issues: future control over the Strait of Hormuz and the fate of Iran's highly enriched uranium stockpile. Iranian authorities have signaled that control over the strategic waterway has become more important than ever, even as Washington presses for Tehran to export its enriched uranium.
The draft agreement, circulated by US President Donald Trump among allies including Israel, aims to prevent fresh breaches of the ceasefire from escalating and scuppering any deal. Under its terms, the Strait of Hormuz would be opened to commercial shipping, the US blockade of Iranian ports would be lifted, and Iran would gain access to as much as $12bn (£9bn) in frozen assets. The goal is for commercial shipping in the strait to return to pre-war levels within 30 days, with negotiations on Iran's nuclear programme expected to last up to 60 days, according to The Guardian.
Coverage comparison
Reporting from Al Jazeera and The Guardian highlights different aspects of the ongoing talks. Al Jazeera focuses on Iranian officials' emphasis on the Strait of Hormuz, quoting senior figures who describe the waterway as a capability rivaling an atomic bomb. The Guardian's coverage, in two separate reports, centers on the draft peace agreement and the stumbling blocks in negotiations, particularly Washington's demand that Tehran export its stockpile of highly enriched uranium.
Both outlets note the fragility of the ceasefire. The Guardian reports that Tehran targeted a US air base in Kuwait on Thursday, after Washington struck what it described as an Iranian drone operation near the strait, underscoring the delicate situation as negotiators refuse to cede ground on final points of disagreement. Al Jazeera's reporting focuses on Iran's internal messaging, with officials insisting Tehran will not relinquish the strategic advantage it has gained through the war.
Key claims
Donald Trump has circulated a draft peace agreement for the war with Iran, according to The Guardian. The agreement includes provisions to open the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping, lift the US blockade of Iranian ports, and give Iran access to up to $12bn in frozen assets. The plan also envisions talks on Iran's nuclear programme, including discussions about its stockpile of highly enriched uranium and supervision by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), as reported by The Guardian.
Pakistan's foreign minister, Mohammad Ishaq Dar, is scheduled to fly to Washington to meet US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in an attempt to accelerate negotiations, The Guardian reports. Pakistani mediators continue to seek a permanent ceasefire, with the Pakistani interior minister, Mohsen Naqvi, meeting Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi for the second time in two days, according to the same outlet.
Iranian authorities have emphasized their control over the Strait of Hormuz, as reported by both Al Jazeera and The Guardian. Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson, Esmaeil Baghaei, said on Saturday that Iran was still reviewing Washington's proposal. Senior adviser to the slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Mohamad Mohkber, told state-linked Mehr news agency that the strait is a capability on the level of an atomic bomb, because a single decision could affect the entire global economy. First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref said Tehran's control over the strait will work to counter US sanctions, Al Jazeera reported.
The Guardian reports that Washington demands Tehran export its stockpile of highly enriched uranium. Five Gulf states have written a letter to the International Maritime Authority, a global shipping watchdog, warning against Iran's proposed route for the strait. China is also pressing for the UN Security Council to ratify any agreement, according to the same outlet.