Washington Post reveals outlines of first phase of Washington-Tehran agreement

• An emerging US-Iran agreement could end the regional war, reopen the Strait of Hormuz and place limits on Tehran’s enriched uranium stockpile, according to a Washington Post report citing regional and US officials.

An emerging agreement between the United States and Iran could bring an end to the ongoing regional war and ease tensions across the Middle East, according to a report published by The Washington Post citing two regional officials and a US official familiar with the negotiations.

US President Donald Trump said over the weekend that the deal had been “largely negotiated” following calls with regional allies and a separate conversation with 'Israel', though officials cautioned that it remains unclear when the agreement could be finalized or implemented.

According to the report, Tehran has insisted throughout negotiations that any agreement must include an end to hostilities on all fronts following the military campaign launched 12 weeks ago by the United States and Israel against Iran. The strikes reportedly killed several senior Iranian officials, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The proposed arrangement would also include ending hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, where a fragile ceasefire has reportedly been in place since April 7.

Commitments on regional interference

The Washington Post reported that the draft agreement contains commitments aimed at preventing interference in the domestic affairs of regional states, including Iran.

Officials said the clause is widely viewed as a reference to Tehran’s support for allied armed groups across the region, including Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, Hamas in Gaza and Shiite factions in Iraq.

One regional official told the newspaper that the United States wants Israel to retain the ability to respond militarily to what it sees as threats originating from Lebanon, while Iran opposes granting Israel unrestricted operational freedom. A US official said the deal would preserve Israel’s right to self-defense against imminent threats.

Strait of Hormuz to reopen gradually

The emerging agreement would also seek to restore maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical energy corridors through which nearly 20% of global oil and natural gas supplies pass.

According to The Washington Post, the conflict severely disrupted shipping activity after Iranian actions left hundreds of vessels stranded in the waterway, including ships carrying oil, gas and fertilizer.

Regional officials said the strait would reopen gradually in parallel with the lifting of a US blockade imposed on Iranian ports on April 17.

Under the proposal, Washington would allow Iran to resume oil exports through sanctions waivers, while broader sanctions relief and the release of frozen Iranian assets would be negotiated during a 60-day period.

Iran’s uranium stockpile at centre of negotiations

Iran’s nuclear program remains a central issue in the negotiations, particularly Tehran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium.

According to officials cited by The Washington Post, Iran would agree to relinquish its stockpile of uranium enriched to high levels as part of the potential deal.

One official with direct knowledge of the negotiations said technical discussions over the handling of the uranium would continue during the 60-day negotiating phase. Some material could be diluted, while the remainder may be transferred to a third country, potentially Russia, which has reportedly offered to receive it.

A US official said sanctions relief would depend on Iran giving up the stockpile.

The International Atomic Energy Agency estimates that Iran currently possesses 440.9 kilograms of uranium enriched up to 60% purity, a level close to weapons-grade enrichment.

Iran continues to insist that its nuclear program is peaceful and maintains what it describes as an “inalienable” right to nuclear technology.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Sunday that Tehran is prepared “to assure the world that we are not after a nuclear weapon.”

Trump also commented on the issue Sunday, saying on social media that relations with Iran were becoming “much more professional and productive,” while stressing that Tehran “cannot develop or procure a Nuclear Weapon or Bomb.”

Key issues still unresolved

Despite progress in negotiations, several major issues appear absent from the emerging framework.

The Washington Post noted there has been no public indication of an agreement regarding Iran’s uranium enrichment program itself or its ballistic missile capabilities, which Israel has long viewed as a major security threat.

The report also said there appears to be no discussion of regime change in Tehran, despite earlier rhetoric from Washington and Israel suggesting hopes that domestic unrest could weaken the Iranian government.

Likewise, there has been no mention of Iran’s previous demands for the withdrawal of US forces from the region or compensation for damage caused during the war.