TEHRAN, May 29 — A source close to Iran’s negotiating team has denied that the text of a proposed memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Iran and the United States had been finalized, Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency reported Thursday, rejecting earlier claims in U.S. media.
The source told Tasnim that reports suggesting the text was merely awaiting formal announcement by the two sides were “not consistent with the facts,” adding that the document “has not yet been finalized.”
Earlier on Thursday, U.S. media Axios reported, citing U.S. officials and a regional source, that U.S. and Iranian negotiators have reached an agreement on an MoU to extend the ceasefire by 60 days and launch talks on Iran’s nuclear program, but U.S. President Donald Trump has yet to give his final approval.
According to the report, the proposed 60-day MoU would state that shipping through the Strait of Hormuz would be “unrestricted.” A U.S. official was quoted as saying this would entail no tolls or harassment, and that Iran would be required to remove all mines from the strait within 30 days.
The MoU would reportedly include an Iranian commitment not to pursue nuclear weapons. It would also state that the first issues to be negotiated during the 60-day window will be how to dispose of Iran’s highly enriched uranium and how to address Iranian enrichment.
The White House would, according to the report, commit to discussing sanctions relief and the release of frozen Iranian assets as part of the talks. It would also consider establishing a mechanism to facilitate Iranian access to goods and humanitarian supplies.
The Iranian source, rejecting the Axios account, stressed that if an agreement text is ultimately finalized, Iran will formally notify Pakistani mediators and make the matter public.
Until then, any Western reports claiming the agreement has already been completed “lack credibility,” the source added.
Speaking on Thursday evening, U.S. Vice President JD Vance said negotiators were “going back and forth on a couple of language points,” including the “question of enrichment.”
“We’re not there yet, but we’re very close and we’re going to keep on working at it,” he told reporters, adding that the United States believed the Iranians were negotiating in “good faith.”
Also on Thursday evening, the U.S. Central Command rejected Iranian media reports that an “invading” U.S. drone had been destroyed by Iran’s air defense.
“No U.S. aircraft were shot down. All U.S. air assets are accounted for,” the command said on X.
Tasnim news agency, citing a military source, said Iran’s air defenses were activated Thursday evening local time and intercepted the drone near Bushehr using missiles.
Since the initial ceasefire between the United States and Iran took effect on April 8, Trump has repeatedly said the two sides are close to a deal and that talks are making progress.
On Wednesday, the U.S. president said that Washington was not yet satisfied with the terms under discussion and remained prepared to resume military action if its demands were not met.
“We’re not satisfied with it, but we will be,” Trump said. “Either that or we’ll have to just finish the job.” (Namibia Daily News / Xinhua)
