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Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Friday that a proposed agreement between Iran and the United States is closer than ever to completion, as White House officials say Tehran has agreed to dismantle its nuclear program under a broader deal aimed at ending months of conflict.
"The Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding has never been closer," Araghchi wrote, referring to the framework agreement that emerged from a series of Pakistan-mediated negotiations between Washington and Tehran that began on April 8.
He also urged media organizations and observers to avoid speculating about the contents of the document before it is formally finalized. "Pending its finalization, the media should refrain from entering speculation about its content," he added.
The remarks came as details of the proposed arrangement began to surface through statements from U.S. officials and media reports.
U.S. President Donald Trump had suggested on Thursday that a broader agreement to end the conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran could be finalized within days, just hours after threatening to hit Tehran "very hard" and seize Kharg Island, one of Iran's key oil export terminals.
"We just made a great settlement of the war with Iran, and we’re going to be subject to finalization of documents, which should get done over the next few days," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. "We’ll probably have a signing, maybe in Europe."
The U.S. president named Vice President JD Vance, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and adviser Jared Kushner as Washington's representatives for a potential signing ceremony and indicated that the agreement had already received approval from Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.
According to a senior Trump administration official, the agreement would require Iran to dismantle its nuclear program and halt support for militant groups before receiving any economic benefits.
The official described the arrangement as a "performance-based deal" and outlined several commitments reportedly accepted by Tehran, including the destruction and removal of nuclear material, keeping the Strait of Hormuz open, and ending funding for militant groups.
The official also said no Iranian funds would be released until the country fulfills its obligations. Iranian officials have previously insisted that sanctions relief and access to funds are essential parts of any agreement, while repeatedly rejecting discussions related to support for militant groups.
Earlier Friday, Iranian state media reported that the draft agreement would grant Tehran access to $24 billion in frozen assets, preserve its control over the Strait of Hormuz, and exclude both its missile program and support for resistance groups from negotiations.
Vice President JD Vance pushed back against reports about the proposed deal, arguing that inaccurate information had circulated publicly. "First, the Iranians are not receiving any cash, and no funds are being released for simply signing a deal or attending a meeting," Vance wrote on X.
"The deal is structured to ensure that the U.S. and its allies concerns are prioritized, and that if the Islamic Republic of Iran meets its obligations, then economic benefits will flow to them and to the entire region," he added.
Trump also accused Tehran of misrepresenting the proposal in media reports. "The terms that Iran leaked out to the Fake News have NOTHING to do with the terms that were agreed to, in writing," Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who had reportedly clashed with Trump over attacks on Lebanon and a potential agreement with Iran, also weighed in on the negotiations, declaring that Iran would not be allowed to obtain nuclear weapons while he remains in office.
"As long as I am the Prime Minister of Israel – Iran will not have nuclear weapons," Netanyahu stated, adding that he and Trump are in "full agreement" on the issue.
"For over 30 years, I have been at the forefront of the international struggle against Iran's nuclear program," he said. "Were it not for this struggle, Iran would have long ago possessed atomic bombs to destroy Israel."
Bloomberg reported, citing senior officials, that the memorandum of understanding could be signed in Geneva as early as Sunday, days before Group of Seven leaders gather in France for their June 15-17 summit.
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