Israel: The Iranian Supreme Leader didn’t approve the agreement therefore Trump won’t approve it
Israel’s Channel 12, quoting an Israeli source, said on Thursday evening that Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei didn’t approve the agreement, and therefore US President Donald Trump will not approve it either.
The source added that the Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi aren’t authorized even if they accept the memorandum of understanding because the one who decides is the Supreme Leader.
The Israeli Channel 12 quoted the same source as saying that it is unknown which of the parties agreed to the deal.
The source indicated that disagreements in Iran still exist, at least in the latest update received by Israel.
In contrast, Axios reported, citing sources, that the US and Iran had reached an agreement on a memorandum of understanding to extend the ceasefire for 60 days and launch negotiations on the Iranian nuclear program.
Axios, citing US officials, added that US and Iranian negotiators reached an agreement on a 60-day memorandum of understanding to extend the ceasefire and launch negotiations on the Iranian nuclear program, while US President Donald Trump hasn’t yet given his final approval.
He explained that signing the memorandum of understanding would represent the most significant diplomatic breakthrough since the outbreak of the war, but reaching a final agreement on Washington’s demands regarding the Iranian nuclear program will require further intensive negotiations.
US officials were quoted as saying that most of the terms of the agreement had been agreed upon by Tuesday, but both sides need approval from their top leadership.
Officials indicated that the Iranians later informed the mediators that they had obtained the necessary approvals and were ready to sign, although Tehran didn’t officially confirm this.
The US negotiators also briefed Trump on the details of the agreement, but he has not yet given his approval.
A US official told the website that “President Trump told the mediators that he wants a few days to consider the matter”.
According to Axios, the memorandum of understanding stipulates that navigation through the Strait of Hormuz will be unrestricted, including no tolls or interference with ships, provided that Iran removes all mines from the strait within 30 days.
Axios confirmed that the US naval blockade will be gradually lifted in parallel with the restoration of commercial shipping traffic.
The memorandum also includes an Iranian pledge not to seek to acquire a nuclear weapon, in addition to starting negotiations during the sixty-day period on how to get rid of Iran’s highly enriched uranium, and the mechanism for dealing with Iranian enrichment activities.
The source explained that in return, the United States would commit to discussing easing sanctions and releasing frozen Iranian funds, in addition to exploring a mechanism to help Iran resume receiving goods and humanitarian aid.
