24/05/2026
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24/05/2026
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WASHINGTON / TEHRAN, May 24: American negotiators believe Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has approved a broad framework of a potential agreement with the United States, under which Tehran would agree in principle to dispose of its highly enriched uranium stockpile, according to a report by the New York Post citing a senior Trump administration official.
The official said the emerging draft envisions a phased arrangement in which Iran would open the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping in exchange for the lifting of the US blockade, alongside commitments related to the handling of its nuclear material. However, the official stressed that the agreement remains incomplete and could still take several days to finalize as both sides continue to negotiate key wording and implementation details.
“We feel quite confident that the supreme leader has signed off on the broad template,” the official was quoted as saying, adding that much of the remaining dispute centers not on whether the material will be disposed of, but how Iran will present the decision domestically.
The official further noted that simultaneous steps under discussion include reopening the Strait of Hormuz, easing economic pressure, and allowing limited breathing room for Iran’s economy while technical details are resolved.
“No one disputes that the stockpiled enriched material will be disposed of. It’s a question about how,” the official said.
Meanwhile, IRGC adviser Mohammad Reza Naqdi warned that Iran’s adversaries would face an “irreparable blow” if they miscalculated against the Islamic Republic. He said external pressure had failed to weaken Iran and instead strengthened its internal foundations.
In a parallel development, Fox News reported that US negotiators are insisting there will be “no deal” unless Iran fully relinquishes its highly enriched uranium. A senior Trump administration official was quoted as saying, “No dust, no deal,” referring to the nuclear material described by President Donald Trump as “nuclear dust.”
The official added that the two sides are reportedly about “95%” aligned on a framework covering nuclear stockpiles and the Strait of Hormuz, but key disagreements remain over final language and verification mechanisms.
“We don’t have a deal until there is a deal,” the official said, noting that military options remain on the table if negotiations collapse.
As talks continue, both Washington and Tehran appear closer than at any point in months, yet still divided over critical details that will determine whether the framework becomes a formal agreement.
