President Trump again vows to ‌retrieve Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium

Iran is playing for time:

Tehran feels “its hand is strengthening” and “time is on its side” because of its influence over the Strait of Hormuz.

  • Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Tehran was reviewing Washington’s latest response to a proposed ceasefire framework after several rounds of message exchanges mediated by Pakistan.
  • President Trump again vows to ‌retrieve Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium, however, an Iranian official tells Al Jazeera that Tehran will “downblend” the nuclear material itself.

  • President Trump ⁠says the US military may have to strike Iran “even harder” but ⁠will wait and see if a peace deal is reached after earlier saying an agreement is in the “final stages”.
  • US ⁠Marines boarded an Iranian-flagged oil tanker in the Gulf ⁠of Oman after suspecting it violated a US blockade as it headed to an Iranian port, but the vessel was later released.
  • Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi is in Iran aiming “to facilitate the exchange of messages and provide additional explanations to clarify the texts sent between the parties”.
  • Iran’s chief negotiator says the United States wants to restart the war and is carrying out “overt and clandestine movements” that signal a new attack.

Iran’s near-total internet shutdown enters 83rd day

The near-total internet blackout in Iran has now “entered its 83rd day with international networks largely barred for over 1968 hours”, according to internet watchdog NetBlocks.

No Deal Reached, Amid ‘Fabricated’ Mideast Media Reports; Trump Presses Nuclear Issue & Iran President Says ‘Won’t Back Down’

…on and on it goes…

Summary

  • Al Arabiya issues dramatic retraction on prior ‘deal reached’ reporting.
  • Iranian president vows to not back down, as Trump still vows to get nuclear material.
  • AI Arabiya TV obtains what it describes as final draft of US-lran agreement, 
  • Reuters reported that Ayatollah ordered that stockpile of uranium enriched to 60% remain strictly inside Iranian territory. Some Iranian officials then denied report to Al Jazeera.
  • WH says make a deal or else… “they can face a punishment from our military the likes of which has not been seen in modern history.”
  • US Intelligence says Iran has reconstitute drone program, defense industrial base, “faster than expected” (CNN).

Iranian President: Won’t Back Down

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has stated, “We will not bow our heads, our ministers and experts are working day and night, without a single day off.” He added, per state sources: “We are willing to sacrifice as much as possible for the honor and pride of Iran, and we are not afraid of martyrdom.”

And just like that…

Markets reversed earlier gains as Iran’s President said on state TV that they won’t back down in talks. The momentum then picked up when a “high-level source” told Al-Arabiya that the Pakistani Army Chief will not head to Tehran tonight.

The Pakistani were supposed to head to Iran only when the reach of an agreement was in sight, so this kind of denies the earlier reports of a US and Iran draft agreement.

US stock indices erased more than half of earlier gains. We’ve seen the same reaction in oil, FX and bond markets but now they are consolidating.

Still, Al Jazeera is reporting that “negotiators are very close to reaching a deal, and are currently working on a draft text. At the same time, another source told Al Jazeera that it is too early to judge whether a serious, final agreement is within reach.”

IRNA has cited a Pakistani official who says the talks are “moving in the right direct” – though it’s anyone’s guess at this point. The prior reported draft did not take up the nuclear issue. Trump continues to press the nuclear issue:

US President Donald Trump has again pledged to seize Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium as part of any agreement over Tehran’s nuclear program.

“Look, we’re going to make sure they don’t have a nuclear weapon or we’re going to have to do something very drastic. I believe when it’s put to the people of our country, they will all agree we cannot let Iran get a nuclear weapon,” Trump told reporters at the White House.

Asked whether Iran could retain its enriched uranium, Trump replied: “No, we will get it. We don’t need it, we don’t want it, we’ll probably destroy it after we get it. But we’re not going to let them have it.”

Oil Plunges on Final Draft of US-Iran Agreement Reached

Is this the one? While we’ve seen this rodeo before, oil is plunging on a Saudi media report which is positive for peace. Crude hits low of day…

Traders Circulate AI Arabiya TV obtaining what it describes as final draft of US-lran agreement: (CLICK TO SEE KEY PROVISIONS) – UNCONFIRMED

Key provisions include:

1) An immediate, comprehensive, and unconditional ceasefire on all fronts (land, sea, air)

2) Mutual commitment not to target military, civilian, or economic infrastructure

3) Cessation of military operations and instigating media warfare

4) Respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, and non-interference in internal affairs

5) Guaranteed freedom of navigation in the Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and Sea of Oman

6) Establishment of a joint monitoring and dispute resolution mechanism

7) Launch of negotiations on outstanding issues within seven days

8) Gradual lifting of U.S. sanctions in exchange for Iran’s adherence to the terms

9) Affirmation of compliance with international law and the UN Charter

Importantly, there’s no mention of the nuclear issue.