IRAN and the United States appeared to be heading towards finalising a ceasefire deal today to end the illegal and unprovoked war launched by the US and Israel against Iran.

US President Donald Trump has cancelled a threatened attack on Iran on the basis that a deal was “imminent.”

He claimed that talks with Iran had been “brought to the highest level of Iranian leadership and approved. He said the finer points of the arrangement had been approved by the US and its regional allies, including Israel. 

President Trump also told reporters at the White House that the documents were in “final shape” and a deal would be completed “pretty quickly.” 

The IRNA news agency was reporting details of the purported draft deal today, which it said maintained Iran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz “until the war is deemed to be over.”

“Contrary to what is being circulated by Western media, Iran will not commit to relinquishing control of the Strait of Hormuz. The only matter referred to in the memorandum of understanding is the return of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz after the end of the war,” it reported.

It added: “The main objective of signing the memorandum of understanding is to end the war on all fronts.”

The draft also reportedly includes a pledge by Washington to make Israel end its war on Lebanon and offer clear guarantees to Tehran over the release of its frozen assets during the negotiation period.

The text being circulated does not include the phrase “extending the ceasefire” but rather a complete end of the war on all fronts.

“Iran does not offer any commitments in the memorandum regarding the nuclear issue and the other party does not commit to lifting the sanctions,” it said.

Washington and Tehran will work on negotiations aimed at addressing and resolving three outstanding issues “of the peaceful nuclear programme, lifting of sanctions, and a mechanism for compensating losses” over the following 60 days, IRNA said.

Also part of the memorandum of understanding, it said, is a commitment from Washington not to increase its armed presence in the region or impose new sanctions during negotiations.

In a statement issued today, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: “As long as I am the prime minister of Israel, Iran will not have nuclear weapons. 

“President Trump and I are in full agreement on this issue.”