Proposed Iran deal would end Tehran’s nuclear program, reopen Hormuz: US official

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A senior US administration official said Friday that a proposed agreement with Iran would reopen the Strait of Hormuz, dismantle Tehran's nuclear program, remove its stockpile of enriched nuclear material, and establish a framework for long-term regional peace.

Speaking on background during a briefing with reporters, the senior White House official said the deal fulfills the core objectives set by President Donald Trump.

"What it does is first it reopens the straits and lifts the blockade. Number two, it leads to the dismantling of the Iranian nuclear program. Number three, it leads to the United States getting the enriched material," the senior official stated.

The official detailed that under the proposed agreement, Iran's enriched nuclear material would be eliminated and removed from the country. "We provided the agreement that this material would be destroyed on site, and then taken out of the country," the Washington official added.

The senior US official also said the agreement aims to secure lasting stability in the Middle East through commitments from all parties involved, stating that the agreement "guarantees a long-term peace in the region, and that would mean, of course, that the Iranians are no longer funding violence in the region, but it would also mean that everyone is respecting the territorial sovereignty of Iran."

The official stated that Iran would only receive economic benefits if it fulfills its commitments under the agreement, stating that the Iranians “don't get anything upon the signing of the MoU... what they get is that they get rewarded economically for complying with their obligations under the deal." 

The briefing came after weeks of negotiations between Washington and Tehran following a major military escalation that saw the US and Israel launch a large-scale campaign against Iran in late February. The hostilities raised fears of a broader regional conflict and disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global energy supplies.

The two sides have since engaged in indirect talks aimed at securing a lasting ceasefire and addressing concerns over Iran's nuclear activities. Pakistan and Qatar have played key mediation roles in facilitating contacts between the parties, with senior US officials previously indicating that a memorandum of understanding was being finalized.

Earlier on Friday, US President Donald Trump dismissed details of a purported agreement published by Iranian media, saying the reported terms had "NOTHING to do with the terms that were agreed to, in writing." Trump's remarks came after Iranian outlets reported details of a draft agreement, prompting US officials to caution against relying on reports from Iranian-affiliated media regarding the negotiations.

The briefing comes as Washington and Tehran appear close to finalizing an agreement, though US officials caution that the deal has not yet been formally signed.

Meanwhile, US Vice President JD Vance wrote on X on Friday, "I'm seeing a lot of fake information about a potential deal to reopen the Strait and end Iran's nuclear weapons program."

He stressed that the Iranians "are not receiving any cash, and no funds are being released for simply signing a deal or attending a meeting."

Vance added that the agreement is structured to ensure US and allied concerns are prioritized, and that if the Islamic Republic of Iran fulfills its obligations, economic benefits would flow to the country and the wider region. He said the deal has the potential to reshape the region and lead to lasting peace.