Iran agrees to dismantle nuclear programme, end funding to terrorist groups under deal: White House official
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A potential breakthrough in the protracted standoff between the United States and Iran appears imminent, with a senior Trump administration official confirming that a proposed agreement demands Tehran dismantle its nuclear program, cease funding to designated terrorist groups, and adhere to rigorous conditions before gaining access to billions in frozen funds. While Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has declared a 'final, agreed upon text' has been reached, both Washington and Tehran continue to dispute crucial details, highlighting the fragile nature of this high-stakes negotiation currently unfolding. The purported deal emerges amidst a volatile geopolitical landscape, marked by recent US and Israeli strikes that have significantly crippled Iran's nuclear infrastructure, leaving it without operating enrichment plants for the first time in nearly two decades. The agreement seeks to extend a fragile 60-day ceasefire and reopen the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil supplies, which has been largely closed due to recent conflict. However, fundamental disagreements persist, particularly regarding the immediate release of Iran's frozen assets and Tehran's commitment to severing ties with its extensive network of proxy groups across the Middle East. With a Memorandum of Understanding potentially weeks away from a digital signing, the real test lies in the subsequent 60-day technical negotiations slated to address the intricacies of nuclear dismantlement and verification. The critical challenge remains bridging the deep chasm of mistrust, especially as Washington insists on performance-based compliance for sanctions relief and Tehran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi maintains Iran's 'right' to uranium enrichment. The world watches keenly to see if this tentative agreement can usher in regional stability or if the unresolved disputes will plunge the region back into heightened conflict.