Trump Says Iran Deal 'Getting Very Close'

WASHINGTON, May 7 (Bernama-dpa) -- President Donald Trump has said that the US is on the verge of reaching an agreement with Iran to end the conflict, reported German Press Agency (dpa).

Trump told broadcaster PBS, "it's getting very close", according to a transcript of a telephone interview.

"I think it's got a very good chance of ending, and if it doesn't end, we have to go back to bombing,” Trump asserted.

In the interview, Trump also confirmed several points of a potential agreement that had previously been reported by the Wall Street Journal, CNN and the news portal Axios.

According to these reports, the agreement stipulates that Iran is to hand over its highly enriched uranium to the US. 

But when asked whether the material might be brought to the US, Trump replied: "No, it's not part of the deal, no."

Trump confirmed that, as part of the agreement, Iran would be required to pledge not to operate any underground nuclear facilities. 

The Wall Street Journal reported, citing an Iranian official, that a long-term moratorium on Iranian uranium enrichment was envisaged. 

Under a proposal, Iran might subsequently be permitted to enrich uranium again to a purity of 3.67 per cent.  According to Trump, however, the latter is not part of the agreement.

According to the reports, Washington and Tehran are working with mediators on a one-page 14-point Memorandum of Understanding. The document is intended to establish a framework for negotiations lasting initially 30 days and to formally end the war. 

Discussions are also reportedly taking place regarding an easing of US sanctions, as well as agreements on the future of the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran has recently severely restricted shipping traffic and the US has established a blockade targeting Iranian ports.

-- BERNAMA-dpa