US President Donald Trump announced that the expected agreement with Iran is scheduled to be signed tomorrow, Sunday, expressing his hope that the process will be completed quickly and easily, and stressing that the expected understanding will prevent Tehran from possessing a nuclear weapon.
Trump said that the memorandum of understanding with Iran is ready for signing, noting that the agreement constitutes a “wall” that prevents Iran from developing or possessing nuclear weapons by any means.
He added that Iran “no longer wants to possess a nuclear weapon and will not possess it,” considering that the proposed understanding achieves a basic goal of ensuring that the Iranian nuclear program does not turn into a military program.
Regarding the Strait of Hormuz, the US President confirmed that the sea passage will be opened to everyone immediately after the signing of the agreement, in a step that would end the state of tension that has prevailed over one of the most important trade and energy arteries in the world during the past months.
Trump indicated that the United States would later deal with what he described as “Iranian nuclear fallout” at the appropriate time, after calm and stability are restored, in reference to the technical and supervisory arrangements related to the Iranian nuclear program.
The US President stressed that Washington looks forward to working with Iran and the countries of the Middle East in the next stage, expressing his hope that the political process will succeed quickly and smoothly.
But in return, he stressed that the United States has the “optimal alternative” if Iran does not comply with what is required of it, stressing that he hopes not to have to resort to this option again.
Trump’s statements come hours after Iranian positions reported significant progress in drafting the memorandum of understanding, with continued reservations about setting the deadline for signing, which reflects a remarkable acceleration in the pace of negotiations during the last hours.
The upcoming agreement is seen as one of the most important political transformations in the region in recent years, given the repercussions it may have on the security of the Arabian Gulf and navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, in addition to its impact on a number of regional files, most notably Lebanon, Iraq, Syria and Yemen.
Regional and international capitals are also following the path of understanding with caution, amid anticipation as to whether it will mark the beginning of a new phase of calm between Washington and Tehran, or whether it will remain an initial framework that requires additional rounds of negotiation before reaching a comprehensive and sustainable agreement.
