President Donald Trump has shared a draft agreement aimed at ending the war with Iran with allied nations, including Israel. This marks a significant step as discussions on a ceasefire move into the document review phase. However, the draft does not immediately resolve the Iranian nuclear issue and retains control over the Strait of Hormuz, suggesting that final agreement may face challenges.
According to The Guardian on May 28, the ceasefire proposal was shared with allies amid concerns that further violations could derail negotiations. The U.S. and Iran continue to engage in talks mediated by Pakistan and Qatar. Pakistani Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar is scheduled to meet with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington on May 29.
The key focus of the agreement is the normalization of the Strait of Hormuz. The draft includes provisions to reopen the strait to commercial shipping and lift U.S. port blockades on Iran. It also allows Iran access to up to $12 billion in frozen assets held abroad due to sanctions. The goal is to restore commercial operations to pre-war levels within 30 days.
The nuclear issue has been set aside for separate negotiations. The draft outlines a plan for discussions lasting up to 60 days regarding the future of Iran's nuclear program. Topics include stockpiles of enriched uranium, a temporary halt on further enrichment, oversight by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and Iran's commitment not to pursue nuclear weapons.
For Israel, the terms are difficult to accept. The draft does not demand immediate and definitive nuclear commitments from Iran and reportedly includes Lebanon within the scope of a permanent ceasefire, placing a significant burden on Israel.
The scope of sanctions relief remains unclear. The Guardian reported that the draft is less specific than Iran's proposals regarding the lifting of oil and petrochemical export sanctions. Iran insists on the unconditional release of frozen assets.
The issue of tolls in the Strait of Hormuz also presents a point of contention. The draft reportedly allows for passage through Hormuz without tolls. However, Iran is negotiating separately with Oman to impose fees under the guise of 'navigation services.' President Trump has publicly warned of a strong response if Oman reaches an agreement with Iran that includes tolls.
The U.S. has placed sanctions on Iran's maritime organization, the Persian Gulf Maritime Authority. Treasury Secretary Scott Besant has warned that countries involved in toll collection, including Oman, could face sanctions.
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has reaffirmed its control over the Strait of Hormuz. The IRGC stated, "In the last 24 hours, we have granted passage to 26 commercial and oil tankers," and warned that any unauthorized navigation would be considered a hostile act. They also reported intercepting four vessels attempting to pass while turning off their Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) the previous night.
The ceasefire remains unstable. The U.S. has reported striking Iranian drone operations near Hormuz, while Iran has targeted U.S. bases in Kuwait. Limited clashes between the two sides have not yet halted indirect communications. However, there are concerns that if shipping companies attempt to transit Hormuz without Iranian permission, the ceasefire established on April 8 could collapse.
While sharing the ceasefire proposal has advanced negotiations, key issues blocking a final agreement remain unresolved. The nuclear issue has been deferred to future discussions, and the control of Hormuz, tolls, the scope of sanctions relief, and the inclusion of Lebanon in the ceasefire have yet to be clarified.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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