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Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Friday that if the final stage of negotiations is completed, the agreement would be signed remotely by both sides and then formally announced.
Iranian hardliners intensified criticism of a looming memorandum of understanding with the US as Washington said the deal would require Tehran to dismantle its nuclear program, destroy and remove its highly enriched uranium, and accept long-term inspections.
Iran has agreed to a performance-based deal requiring it to dismantle its nuclear program, destroy and remove nuclear material, and stop funding proxy groups before receiving sanctions relief, Fox News reported, citing a White House official.
Iranian state media published details of what it called a 14-point draft understanding with the United States, including a ceasefire on all fronts, lifting of the naval blockade and oil sanctions, release of $24 billion in blocked funds, and future talks limited to nuclear and sanctions issues while excluding Iran’s missile program and support for proxy groups.
US President Donald Trump said on Thursday Washington had reached a “great deal” with Iran, claiming the United States got “everything” it wanted and that Tehran would not obtain nuclear weapons.
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US Senator Eric Schmitt said on Friday on Fox President Donald Trump’s military action against Iran degraded Tehran’s nuclear and military capabilities, creating space for negotiations that he said could soon produce tangible results.
Schmitt said the expected outcome of a deal would be preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and ensuring the Strait of Hormuz remains fully open, describing both as major achievements for the Trump administration.
“The anticipation is that you’re going to get the Strait totally opened up. I think that'll be a relief for a lot of people in our country, and then also that they won't have their nuclear program. So these are major achievements by a president who is the master deal maker, he always has been, and he's brought those talents to the most important job in the world," he said.
Iran launched multiple one-way attack drones in an attempt to strike commercial ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, US Central Command said on Friday.
"Iran launched multiple one-way attack drones in an attempt to strike commercial ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. forces have downed all of them in recent hours as traffic flow through the strait continues unimpeded. The international trade corridor remains open for transit," CENTCOM posted on X.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Friday a US-Iran deal could be reached in the next few days, adding that it could come as soon as this weekend or Monday.
Speaking on Fox News, Bessent said the agreement would bring economic relief and help reduce energy prices in the United States.
US forces shot down multiple Iranian one-way attack drones that were heading toward the Strait of Hormuz, according to Reuters, citing a person familiar with the matter.
Meisam Zohurian, an Iranian lawmaker, said on Friday a text published by the official media outlet of Iran’s parliament on a reported Iran-US agreement draft was “irresponsible” on multiple grounds.
"First, the text includes incorrect claims, such as the recognition of enrichment or the payment of Iran's funds at the outset of the agreement, which are not present in the actual text and effectively create a public perception of the text that will lead to dissatisfaction once the main text is released," he posted on X.
"Second, its publication prompted objections from the opposing side, resulting in the denial by Iran's Foreign Minister, which Trump interpreted as an apology from Iran," Zohurian added.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran’s “pressure” over the Strait of Hormuz will remain in place indefinitely and that Iranian armed forces will intervene whenever necessary.
Araghchi added that under international law, imposing transit tolls on the Strait of Hormuz is not possible, but said that Iran is taking “service fees” and that the matter is part of ongoing negotiations, IRGC affiliated Tasnim reported.
US President Donald Trump told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a phone call that he expects to sign a deal with Iran within days, according to Axios. “This is the deal. It’s a great deal, and it’s time to end this war,” the report said, quoting a senior US official.
Mohsen Rezaei, a former IRGC commander and current military adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader, said US President Donald Trump accepted the release of $24 billion in frozen Iranian assets but is unwilling to make the decision public.
The United Arab Emirates on Friday denied media reports on the transfer of funds from the UAE to Iran, including claims involving $3 billion.
In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the allegations were “entirely false and unfounded,” adding that no frozen Iranian funds have been released, transferred, or facilitated through the UAE.