Official media sources in Tehran reported the revelation of details of what they described as an "unofficial text" of an understanding being negotiated between Iran and the United States through Pakistani mediation. The sources confirmed that this document has not yet reached its final form, as it is still undergoing precise stages of review and scrutiny between the concerned parties.
The circulated draft includes features of new security arrangements in the strategic Strait of Hormuz region, in addition to establishing clear mechanisms for the release of a portion of Iran's frozen assets abroad. These moves come within the framework of ongoing discussions between Tehran and Washington to de-escalate tensions and resolve outstanding issues.
The clause related to redrafting navigation rules in the Strait of Hormuz is one of the most prominent points of the unofficial understanding. The draft proposes that the Islamic Republic become the exclusive authority for determining the nature of vessels permitted to pass through. This measure aims to enhance Iranian sovereignty over the waterway, which is considered the world's energy lifeline.
The leaked draft stipulates that any vessel whose cargo is classified as posing a threat to Iranian national security, or whose ultimate beneficiary is proven to be a party hostile to Tehran, will lose its status as a commercial vessel. Consequently, these vessels will not be allowed to use the designated shipping lanes for international transit in the region.
The proposed formula also grants Iranian authorities broad powers, including drawing maritime traffic routes and imposing fees for navigation services they provide. These powers extend to providing necessary security protection and addressing all environmental damage that may result from heavy vessel traffic in the strait.
Under these details, all passing vessels will be required to submit detailed data to a specialized center affiliated with the Iranian naval force, including information on cargo, ownership, and final destination. This data will be used to assess security risks, with Tehran reserving the right to conduct on-site inspections when absolutely necessary.
In the economic aspect of the understanding, the draft indicated a US commitment to allow Iran full access to approximately $12 billion of its frozen assets within a period not exceeding 60 days. This clause aims to alleviate economic pressures and provide urgently needed financial liquidity for the Iranian government.
The sources clarified that the released funds will be transferable and spendable through banking channels and banks independently designated by Tehran without additional restrictions. Through this condition, Iran seeks to ensure that the technical and legal obstacles encountered in previous agreements for the release of its funds are not repeated.
This financial issue was a key focus of discussions held by a high-level Iranian delegation in the Qatari capital, Doha, with the participation of the Central Bank Governor. That visit aimed to obtain international guarantees preventing the re-freezing of these funds or their classification as unusable assets.
For his part, Hossein Ghorbanzadeh, a member of the economic negotiating team, confirmed that Tehran has already obtained technical guarantees during the Doha meetings to ensure the actual utilization of the expected liberated assets. He stressed that the Iranian side attaches great importance to implementation mechanisms to ensure that the funds reach the targeted accounts without external interference.
Despite the momentum of the published details, sources in Tehran emphasized that the document is still in the stage of an "unofficial understanding" and has not yet become a binding agreement. They indicated that the continuation of negotiations means the possibility of amending some clauses in line with the country's supreme strategic and economic interests.
The circulated draft includes features of new security arrangements in the Strait of Hormuz, along with mechanisms for the release of a portion of Iran's frozen assets.
شارك برأيك
Details of a Draft Iranian-American Understanding on the Security of the Strait of Hormuz and Frozen Funds Revealed