Donald Trump Threatens Bombing If Iran Rejects One-Page War Memo To Reopen Strait Of Hormuz

U.S. President Donald Trump said on social media Wednesday that “If they don’t agree, the bombing starts, and it will be, sadly, at a much higher level and intensity than it was before,” tying the threat to whether Iran accepts a reported agreement to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The White House believes it is nearing an agreement with Iran on a one-page memorandum to end the war, according to reporting by Axios cited in The Washington Post. Reuters said the U.S. and Iran were closing in on the memo to end the war, citing sources. The BBC’s Frank Gardner said the U.S. had imposed a naval blockade on Iran’s Gulf ports and later announced “Project Freedom” to help ships pass through the strait, but that it has now been paused.

“The White House believes it is close to reaching an agreement with Iran on a one-page memorandum of understanding to end the war and set a framework for more detailed negotiations on the nuclear program”

Al-Jazeera Net

The Hill reported that the U.S. and Iran are nearing an agreement on a one-page memorandum to end the two-month conflict, with a source telling NewsNation’s Kellie Meyer that the memo would establish a framework for future talks on Tehran’s nuclear program. The Hill also said the memo would be under a proposed 14-point deal in which Iran would commit to a moratorium on nuclear enrichment and the U.S. would lift sanctions and release billions of frozen Iranian funds, while both sides would lift blockades in the Strait of Hormuz. Reuters, via a Pakistani source involved in peace efforts, said the parties expected a response from Iran within 48 hours on key points of a one-page, 14-point memorandum, and that “We will close this very soon. We are getting close.” The Times added that an Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson said Iran is reviewing an American proposal to end their conflict and will convey its views to Pakistan as a mediator, according to ISNA news agency.

The proposed memorandum described by Axios and carried in multiple outlets would declare an end to hostilities and start a 30-day negotiation period, with talks expected to take place in Islamabad or Geneva, according to the Hill and The Jerusalem Post. The Hill said the U.S. military operation would end and the Strait of Hormuz would fully reopen “assuming Iran agrees to give what has been agreed to,” while also noting Trump announced a pause on “Project Freedom” and said the naval blockade would remain. The Jerusalem Post said key points would include both countries lifting their respective blockades on the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for a U.S. removal of sanctions and an Iranian commitment to a 15-year moratorium on uranium enrichment, and it said the document was the closest the two countries have come to an agreement since the war began on February 28. The BBC’s Frank Gardner said maritime experts said “this has no chance of succeeding as long as Iran can threaten shipping,” and that a U.S.-Iran deal is possibly the only viable way out of the damaging standoff in the Gulf.

“Frank Gardner Security correspondent Not yet, but the signs today are perhaps more encouraging than they have been for days”

BBC