US, Iran reach tentative deal, waiting for Trump’s approval, sources say

The United States and Iran reached a tentative agreement on Thursday to extend the shaky ceasefire in the Middle East and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, but President Trump’s approval remains pending, according to U.S. sources. 

The two sides have struck a deal on a 60-day memorandum of understanding (MOU) to protract the fragile ceasefire, which has been in place since last month, and begin the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway that has been effectively choked off by Iran. 

They would also commit to negotiating over Iran’s nuclear enrichment program and U.S. sanctions on the regime.

As part of the agreement, which has to be cleared by senior Iranian leadership, Iran will not impose tolls on commercial ships attempting to transit the strait and Tehran would begin demining the waterway through which 20 percent of the world’s oil and gas supply flows through, sources said. 

If the commercial shipping in the strait is restored, the U.S. Navy blockade........

© The Hill