The United States and Iran are seeking to finalize an agreement on Sunday after announcing progress in their talks to end the war. President Donald Trump said a proposal that included opening the blockaded Strait of Hormuz was “largely negotiated”.

According to US media, this agreement would allow ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz and would also ease sanctions on Iran. However, the contentious issue of Iran’s nuclear program will be deferred to later negotiations.

CBS News, citing sources familiar with the discussions, reported that the latest proposal includes unfreezing some Iranian assets in foreign banks and extending negotiations for an additional 30 days. The Wall Street Journal reported similar information regarding this extension.

The New York Times, citing unnamed American officials, reported that the details of an “apparent commitment” by Tehran to give up its stockpile of highly enriched uranium would be discussed after the initial agreement was struck.

Foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei earlier noted “a trend towards rapprochement” with Washington but said “it does not necessarily mean that we and the United States will reach an agreement on the important issues.”

“Our intention was first to draft a memorandum of understanding, a kind of framework agreement,” he said on state television.

Baqaei added that he hoped the details of a final agreement could be worked out “within a reasonable timeframe between 30 to 60 days” after the initial framework was complete.

The agreement under discussion includes lifting the naval blockade imposed by the United States on Iranian ports and addressing the issue of the strategic Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has almost completely closed since the start of the war on February 28.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the mediator in these negotiations, fueled speculation on Sunday about a gradual resolution to the conflict, saying he hoped to host the next round of talks “very soon.”

“An Agreement has been largely negotiated, subject to finalization between the United States of America, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the various other Countries,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform on Saturday.

“In addition to many other elements of the Agreement, the Strait of Hormuz will be opened,” he added. His statement came after a phone call with several Gulf leaders, as well as Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, and Pakistan.

The US president also mentioned that he had spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a separate call, which he described as “good.”

In recent days, US media outlets have reported a difference in strategies between Donald Trump and his Israeli ally, with the former seeking a diplomatic solution while the latter favors resuming military operations against Iran.

On the same day, Iran’s chief negotiator, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, promised a “crushing” response if the United States resumes its war against Iran.

Ghalibaf had met with Pakistani Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir in Tehran as part of Islamabad’s mediation efforts.

On the Lebanese front, despite the ceasefire that went into effect on April 17, the Israeli army is intensifying its airstrikes and warnings to residents in southern Lebanon. On Saturday, it lost its 22nd soldier since the start of its war with the Iranian-backed Hezbollah. In Nabatieh, southern Lebanon, the Civil Defense reported on Sunday that its regional center was destroyed by a “direct attack” in an Israeli airstrike. (AFP)