Washington and Tehran have reached a preliminary understanding on a 60-day ceasefire, but the United States will rely on verification procedures rather than trust to ensure Iranian compliance with any future agreement, the US vice-president, JD Vance, has said on Friday.
“You don’t take anything at face value”: Verification over trust
The United States plans to monitor Iran’s adherence to its obligations under any prospective future accord, according to the country’s vice-president, JD Vance.
“You don’t take anything at face value — not even guarantees that they won’t develop or procure a nuclear programme,” the US vice-president told reporters. “That is why we have verification procedures.”
In his view, distrust is an unavoidable element of any negotiating process. Vance stressed that Washington and Tehran have not yet fully agreed the terms of the deal, but are in the final stages of talks. The authorities have not yet reached a final agreement, he said. However, they are very close to doing so and intend to continue working towards that goal.
From strikes to ceasefire: Fragile truce takes shape
On February 28, the United States and Israel began carrying out strikes on various targets inside Iran. On April 8, Washington and Tehran announced they had reached a ceasefire agreement. Shortly afterwards, however, the United States imposed a blockade on Iranian ports, to which Iran responded by introducing special transit rules in the Strait of Hormuz.
Washington and Tehran have reached a preliminary understanding on a draft agreement that provides for a 60-day truce. Final approval of the deal is now awaiting the go-ahead from the White House, Donald Trump.
No final memorandum yet, Iranian sources confirm
The draft memorandum between Iran and the United States has yet to be approved. Iran’s Tasnim news agency, citing a source familiar with the work of Tehran’s negotiating team, has reported that the text of a proposed memorandum of understanding has not yet received final approval.
Claims that a final version of the document is ready for publication are untrue. According to the source, Iran has not yet notified the Pakistani intermediary that the drafting of the document has been completed. This suggests that the process of reaching agreement is still under way, and that no preliminary understandings have yet been reached.
