For weeks, mediators between Iran and the United States have been trying to hammer out a preliminary agreement that might ultimately end the war. Those efforts have been repeatedly foiled as the warring sides have accused each other of stalling or misrepresenting the terms.
Now, officials involved in the talks say a new draft memorandum is under discussion that is closer to gaining approval from both sides, though they have differing accounts of some of the terms. President Trump has not yet signed off.
It would be an initial framework, paving the way for more substantive — and most likely more challenging and prolonged — negotiations to determine the future of Iran’s nuclear program, U.S. sanctions on the country and a formal end to the war.
In recent days, there have been brief exchanges of fire between U.S. and Iranian forces, adding to the pressure on negotiators to reach an agreement.
Diplomats involved in the talks said that the longer the haggling went on, the more frustrated the two sides might get and exchanges of fire might increase — which risks further endangering the broader diplomatic effort.
Here are some of the details under discussion in the latest proposal, according to an Iranian official, U.S. officials and two diplomats involved in the latest talks, who all spoke on condition of anonymity in order to discuss the draft.