Senior Iranian official: Deal draft says Tehran won’t produce or acquire nuclear weapons, will dilute uranium stockpile

A senior Iranian official tells Reuters a final draft of the memorandum of understanding with the US covers a range of issues from Tehran’s nuclear work to reopening the Strait of Hormuz and US waivers on oil sanctions, with a final deal to be discussed in the 60 days following agreement by the two sides.

The Iranian official says the draft memorandum included the following:

• Iran immediately reopens the Strait of Hormuz to all commercial vessels, while the US lifts its naval blockade on Iranian ports

• The US agrees not to impose any new sanctions on Iran until a final deal is reached

• The US will waive oil sanctions on Iran for a specified period, allowing Tehran to sell oil and receive revenue

• The US agrees to release $25 billion of Iran’s frozen assets, including via direct cash transfers, cooperation among regional countries, and financial credit lines

• Tehran agrees that it will neither produce nor acquire nuclear weapons

* Tehran agrees to maintain the nuclear status quo until a final deal is reached, including by not enriching uranium and not expanding nuclear facilities

• The US agrees Tehran will dilute its highly enriched uranium stockpile inside Iran, with a mechanism for doing so to be discussed within 60 days

It is unclear from the report what that means.

Iran has repeatedly denied seeking nuclear weapons, but has enriched and stockpiled uranium to near weapons-grade levels while openly seeking to destroy Israel.

The Reuters report makes no mention of Lebanon.