TEHRAN, May 27 (Xinhua) -- Iran has a draft of an initial, unofficial framework for a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the United States, which demands U.S. military withdrawal and naval blockade lift, several media outlets reported Wednesday, citing Iran's state-run IRIB TV.
In return, Iran has committed to restoring commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz to pre-war levels within one month and managing ship traffic through the strait with Oman, the reports said, adding military vessels are not included in the agreement.
According to the reports, the United States has agreed to lift its naval blockade of Iranian ports, recognize Iran's management of maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz in cooperation with Oman, accept Tehran's designated transit routes for vessels, and withdraw U.S. forces from areas surrounding Iran.
Any final U.S.-Iran agreement reached within a 60-day negotiation period would be approved in the form of a binding United Nations Security Council resolution, the reports said.
Under the deal, Iran will take no action without "tangible verification," the reports added
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei confirmed on Saturday that Iran and the United States are working to finalize an MoU on ending the war.
"Our intention has been first to agree on an MoU consisting of 14 clauses," Baghaei told IRIB TV, adding that the two sides aimed to reach a final agreement "within a period of 30 to 60 days" covering issues such as the cessation of U.S. maritime attacks and the release of Iranian frozen assets.
Iran, the United States, and Israel reached a ceasefire on April 8 after 40 days of fighting. Following the truce, Iranian and U.S. delegations held one round of peace talks in Islamabad on April 11 and 12, which failed to yield an agreement.
Over the past weeks, the two sides have reportedly exchanged several proposed plans outlining conditions for ending the conflict through Pakistani mediation. ■
