Iranian state television reported on Wednesday that a draft framework agreement with the United States includes a commitment to lift the naval blockade on Iran, restore commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, and withdraw US forces from the Gulf region. The report, cited by AFP, comes amid ongoing negotiations between Tehran and Washington to end the war that began on February 28 and has engulfed the Middle East, with a fragile ceasefire in place since April 8.
Draft Memorandum of Understanding
The state TV report described a draft outline of a potential memorandum of understanding, noting that the text is “still not finalized.” Since April 13, the US has imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports and coasts, while Iran has maintained tight control over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a vital global energy conduit. According to the draft, the United States has committed to lifting the naval blockade and ceasing harassment of ships traveling to or from Iran. In exchange, Iran would allow commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz to resume within one month, as it did before the war.
However, the draft specifies that Iran would continue to manage shipping lanes, inspect vessels, and impose service fees—measures that have been in place only since the conflict began. These commitments do not apply to military vessels, and Tehran has not agreed “to unconditionally reopen the strait.”
US Troop Withdrawal
On the withdrawal of US troops from the region, the draft states that Washington has given “a commitment to the Islamic Republic of Iran regarding this issue.” It remains unclear whether this commitment refers only to forces deployed before and during the war, or if it includes existing US military bases in the Gulf. Following agreement on the framework, Tehran and Washington would enter a 60-day negotiation period, though the specific issues to be discussed were not detailed. The draft added that if a final agreement is reached during this period, it is expected to be approved by a binding resolution of the United Nations Security Council.
Iranian Intelligence Warning
Separately, Iran’s intelligence ministry stated on Wednesday that the goal of the US and Israel remains to overthrow the Islamic republic and partition the country. In a statement carried by Iranian media, the ministry said: “The enemy is now pursuing through other means the objective of overthrowing and partitioning the country, which it openly declared at the beginning of the recent war but failed to achieve through military attack.” The ministry claimed to have intelligence indicating that the US and Israel would seek to intensify economic pressure, create divisions among religious and ethnic groups, and carry out sabotage and terrorist operations. These actions, it said, would involve large-scale smuggling of weapons, ammunition, and illegal communication tools, including Starlink devices used for satellite internet access.
For decades, Iran and Israel have engaged in a shadow war involving sabotage operations, including attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities and assassinations of scientists. This dynamic changed with last year’s 12-day war, the first sustained conflict between the long-time foes, following sporadic tit-for-tat attacks in 2024 that stopped short of open warfare. Iran does not recognize Israel and has had no diplomatic relations with the United States since 1980.
