US official says draft deal will spell out on-site uranium processing

2026-06-12

A senior US official said on the 12th that a draft agreement to end fighting with Iran will include a provision for the US to process Iran's enriched uranium inside the country. The official said a signing could come within days and that negotiations were in the final stretch.

Deal in the final phase

The official said the chance of ultimately reaching a deal was about 85% and not 100%. The official also said that while most people with authority inside the Iranian leadership want to sign, not everyone is on the same page.

According to the official, the draft includes the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, the lifting of the naval blockade by US forces, the dismantling of the nuclear programme and the abandonment of enriched uranium. The official said there would still be a 60-day negotiation period after signing to discuss remaining issues.

Sanctions relief after compliance

The official also said Iran would receive no economic benefit at the time of signing and that sanctions would be eased in line with compliance with the agreement. An inspection system to verify implementation would also be included, the official said. If the conditions are met, the country would be freed from economic pressure, including the lifting of frozen assets and sanctions relief.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the mediator, posted on social media on the 12th that 'the final document of the peace deal has been completed. Pakistan is working with both countries to finalise the next steps. We have never been closer to peace.' Middle Eastern media reported, citing Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Baqaei, that the Iranian side was making final adjustments to the contents of the agreement document and that relevant agencies were holding meetings.

Even so, while the talks are thought to be in their final stage, it is still hard to tell how much of the gap has been closed. In a television programme on the evening of the 12th, Foreign Minister Araghchi said the deal was divided into two stages and that nuclear issues would not be discussed in the first stage. He also reiterated his view that a 'service fee' would be charged in the Strait of Hormuz and that it would be managed jointly with Oman.

Araghchi said that if an agreement is reached, 'both sides will sign remotely'. US President Donald Trump on the 12th reposted on his own account an image from social media in which Araghchi said the deal was 'closer than ever', apparently aiming to create the impression that momentum toward an agreement is also building on the Iranian side.

Fars News, which is close to the Revolutionary Guards, criticised Araghchi's post the same day, saying it ended up supporting Trump's claim. It said what the Iranian people need is not ambiguity that favours the other side.

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