Iran Says It Agreed With Washington on Guiding Principles After Geneva Talks

Iran and the United States ended a second round of talks in Geneva on Tuesday 17 February at mid-day, with Iranian media saying the two sides agreed on "un ensemble de principes directeurs" that could open the way to a possible accord.

“Deal to end fighting would lead to Hormuz reopening, Iran says A deal with the US to end fighting in Iran is close and includes reopening the Strait of Hormuz, Iran's Foreign Minister has said”

BBC

Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said Monday that "nous pouvons prudemment conclure que la position américaine sur la question nucléaire iranienne est devenue plus réaliste," as the negotiations continued under mediation by the Sultanate of Oman.

BBC

The talks followed a resumption of dialogue on 6 February in Muscat after an escalation of threats, and France 24 reported that Donald Trump said he would participate "indirectement" in the negotiations.

Alongside diplomacy, Iranian state television said the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps deployed boats and helicopters and tested drones and missiles in an exercise in the strategic Strait of Ormuz, with the maneuvers aimed at preparing the Guards for "menaces sécuritaires et militaires potentielles".

In a separate warning, Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei said in a speech that "l'arme capable de le couler l'est encore plus," as he responded to repeated claims that the United States had sent a warship toward Iran.

As negotiations moved toward an agreement, CNN said Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei told reporters that "understanding has" been reached on the majority of issues, while the memorandum of understanding was described as addressing the regime’s nuclear program and sanctions relief.

CNN also reported that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said a statement with regards to future control of the Strait of Hormuz should be expected "soon," and that the agreement would include a resolution for the conflict of Lebanon "and all other fronts."

BFM

The BBC reported that Seyed Abbas Araghchi told state TV that a deal to end fighting would lead to Hormuz reopening and include lifting of a US blockade, while talks on Iran’s nuclear programme would begin later.

The Guardian added that Araqchi told Iranian state media that nuclear talks with the US will only take place at a later stage, and that the agreement did not include anything about Iran’s nuclear programme.

In parallel, the BBC said the deal would reopen the Strait of Hormuz in return for the US lifting its blockade on Iranian shipping, followed by a 60-day period of negotiation focusing on Iran's enriched uranium.

The BBC said the war began with US and Israeli strikes across Iran on 28 February, and that the US and Iran had exchanged intermittent fire even after agreeing a ceasefire in April, as the Strait of Hormuz remained effectively closed.

“What to know about the Iran war today: - Pakistan's prime minister said "a final, agreed upon text" of a U”

CBS News

In the same reporting, the BBC described how US officials said the MOU was based on "performance" and that Iran would only receive economic benefits when it could be verified it had implemented measures it had committed to.

CBS News reported that Pakistan’s prime minister said a "final, agreed upon text" of a U.S.-Iran peace deal had been reached, and that Pakistan was working closely with both sides to finalize the next steps.

CBS News also said a signed memorandum of understanding would trigger 60 more days of “technical” negotiations on implementation and remaining issues, while Araghchi said terms dealing with Iran's nuclear program would be finalized in the 60 days after the initial agreement is signed.

Looking beyond the immediate ceasefire, the Guardian reported that Araqchi said end to war on all fronts includes Lebanon, while the BBC said the MOU envisaged an end to the conflict between Israel and the Hezbollah in Lebanon, with Israel not involved in the negotiations.