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A preliminary draft framework for negotiations between the United States and Iran proposes transferring Iran's highly enriched uranium stockpile to a third
country or reducing its enrichment level. It also calls for the Strait of Hormuz to reopen to international shipping within seven days of an initial understanding, Al Arabiya English reported. According to Al Arabiya English, which obtained the key points of the draft, China could potentially act as a guarantor to ensure that any agreement is implemented and sustained. The framework also proposes holding direct US-Iran talks in Doha instead of Istanbul. Under the proposed arrangement, Iran would take steps on its nuclear programme and maritime security in return for US action to ease sanctions, blockades and other economic restrictions.
Draft Proposes Verification Mechanism, China As Possible Guarantor
The framework calls for an independent mechanism to verify whether both sides are meeting their commitments before each phase of the agreement is implemented. This would ensure that neither country makes major concessions without corresponding and independently verified steps from the other.
It also proposes a dispute-resolution mechanism involving mediators and guarantor countries. The mechanism would address delays or violations and help prevent a fresh military escalation, according to Al Arabiya English.
Meanwhile, Iran's state news agency IRNA reported that a Qatari delegation arrived in Tehran on Friday morning in an effort to restore a ceasefire between the US and Iran.
The delegation was led by a senior adviser to Qatar's prime minister and foreign minister and was coordinating with Washington. It arrived for consultations as diplomatic efforts to ease tensions continued.
A letter from US Vice President JD Vance to Iranian security official Mohsen Rezaei was also reportedly delivered through the Qatari envoys. Tehran reportedly welcomed the letter, which proposed a fresh diplomatic route to prevent further US military strikes.
Trump Says US Is In No Hurry To End War
The diplomatic efforts come as US President Donald Trump has maintained that Washington is in no hurry to end its war with Iran. Describing the conflict as "not a typical war", Trump has said the United States has time on its side despite months of fighting and repeated attempts to reach a lasting settlement.
Trump has also claimed that Tehran wants to negotiate with Washington but is facing serious domestic difficulties, including an inability to pay its military personnel and police officers.
“There are talks. They want to talk. They keep talking,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.
“But look, they're not paying their soldiers, they're not paying their police. They're in a lot of trouble. And we have time, frankly. It's a war, but it's not a typical war; we've been there for seven months,” he added.
Trump also played down the financial cost of the military campaign, claiming that the US had spent relatively little and had recovered its expenditure through developments in Venezuela.
“We're spending very little money, relatively speaking. I heard somebody say, you're spending money. I said, well, any money we spent, we've more than made up for in a place called Venezuela, like by 10 times...” he remarked.
He did not provide figures to support his claim about recovering the costs through Venezuela.
Trump's comments come amid continued uncertainty over the conflict. While he has suggested that Iran is interested in reaching an agreement, the two sides remain divided over key issues, including Tehran's nuclear programme, sanctions and the US blockade of Iranian ports.
The US president has also repeatedly raised the possibility of further military action. He previously said Washington could launch “another little Epic Fury”, referring to the initial military operation against Iran, while at other times suggesting that a “big and good” agreement could still be reached.
Turkey Steps Up Diplomatic Outreach
Diplomatic efforts also continued on Friday, with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan meeting US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the sidelines of a G20 ministerial gathering hosted by the United States.
According to Turkey's state-run Anadolu Agency, the discussions covered the ongoing negotiations between Washington and Tehran, regional developments and bilateral relations.
The meeting followed a phone conversation between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Trump earlier in the week. During the call, Ankara conveyed its concerns over maritime routes and expressed support for diplomatic efforts to reduce regional tensions.
Turkey has joined other regional players in engaging with Washington to explore possible ways to resolve the conflict. However, Trump's remarks about having time, along with his repeated warnings of possible military action, underline how uncertain the prospects of a diplomatic breakthrough remain.
