Iran follows peace through strength, Deputy Foreign Minister says

Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said on Saturday that Iran and the United States have “moved closer” to finalizing a memorandum of understanding aimed at ending the conflict, describing the talks as converging after weeks of indirect exchanges mediated by Pakistan, IRGC affiliated Fars News reported.

Baghaei said the draft framework would include ending hostilities, addressing maritime issues, and discussing the release of frozen Iranian assets, while adding that nuclear and sanctions issues would be addressed in later stages of negotiations toward a final agreement.

“Subsequently, within a reasonable timeframe of 30 to 60 days, the two sides would discuss the details of these issues and ultimately reach a final accord,” Baghaei said.

US officials said Iran agreed in principle to give up its stockpile of highly enriched uranium as part of a US-Iran framework announced by Donald Trump, according to the New York Times.

The officials said the proposal leaves unresolved how Iran would surrender the material, with details deferred to future negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program. They added that Iran originally resisted including the stockpile in an initial phase of the deal, but US negotiators warned they would abandon talks and resume military action if no commitment was made.

The report said Iran holds about 970 pounds of uranium enriched to 60%, and that options discussed in parallel include transferring the material abroad or diluting it. The White House did not comment on the details of the proposal.

US House Representative Randy Fine said on Saturday on X that he has been in touch with the White House regarding a potential Iran deal, adding that President Donald Trump “will land this deal and end the conflict on his terms,” and asserting that Iran will never obtain a nuclear weapon.

"I’ve been in touch with the White House tonight about the potential Iran deal and let me say this: President Trump will land this deal and end the conflict on his terms. The Mullahs will never have a nuclear weapon," Fine said.

US House Speaker Mike Johnson said in a post on X on Saturday that President Donald Trump was “the only one” capable of bringing Iran to the negotiating table, saying he was encouraged by reports that a peace deal is underway.

"President Trump is the ONLY one who could have gotten Iran — the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism — to the negotiating table. We are greatly encouraged to learn a PEACE DEAL in Iran is underway — and look forward to learning more about the specifics. Under President Trump’s leadership, our nation is stronger, more respected on the global stage, and safer than ever before," Johnson said.

Former US State Department spokesperson Ned Price on Saturday issued a warning against those he called the architects of America’s war with Iran, saying that when the conflict ends “with enormous and lasting costs and little to show for it,” its main promoters must be held to account.

"When this war ends with enormous and lasting costs and little to show for it, we should do something we haven’t done in a quarter century: collectively hold accountable those who pushed it in the first place. From Washington’s prolific Iran war lobby to my former colleagues who sane-washed it, their voices should no longer be allowed to dominate the conversation as they have for two decades. Their discrediting may be virtually all we have to show for this disastrous decision," Price said.