In a pact to end the conflict, the US and Iran are at odds over nuclear inspections and frozen assets.
Pennsylvania/DUBAI (Reuters) – US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday Iran had agreed to nuclear inspections into “infinity” but Tehran insisted it had made no such concession in discussions, raising worries about the viability of their fragile peace pact.
The two countries, who held a first round of talks in Switzerland on Monday, also issued conflicting accounts of financial incentives for Iran, control of the Strait of Hormuz and Israel’s parallel war in Lebanon – all major components of their framework deal signed last week to end the war.
Trump said negotiations with Iran, however, were going “very well.” “We’re doing pretty well,” he remarked at a rally in Pennsylvania.
The United States recently eased travel restrictions on Iran’s World Cup soccer team allowing it to travel from Tijuana, Mexico to Seattle two days before its next match instead of one.
Trump’s poll numbers suffered as evidence of waning domestic support for the war emerged, and the Republican-controlled Senate rejected the president, voting to end the war in a mostly symbolic vote that underscored divisions within his own party.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll indicated 35% of Americans say the US is in a weaker position with Iran now than before the war, while 23% say it is in a stronger position.
The Senate approved a resolution passed by the House of Representatives earlier this month by a vote of 50-48, as anxiety over the unpopular war that started on February 28 increased even among some of Trump’s Republicans.
It was the first time both houses of Congress passed a resolution to direct a president to withdraw US armed forces from hostilities under the War Powers Act, but it was not immediately obvious how the votes would effect the battle.
RESCUE OF SEAFARERS
The first deal between Washington and Tehran has enabled commerce to resume in the strait, which normally carries a fifth of the world’s energy supply, but the prospects for enduring peace are far from assured.
Trump said Wednesday he has asked the Justice Department to probe oil firms for not cutting pump prices to reflect down crude prices.“Gas prices better drop down a whole lot faster than what I’m seeing!” he commented on social media.
Oil prices dropped over 1% on Wednesday, extending losses for the week and trading near their lowest levels since before the war began on February 28.
The UN maritime agency said it was attempting to evacuate 11,000 seamen stuck after Iran closed the crucial waterway.
The deal requires Iran to allow commerce to pass without hindrance for 60 days, though it has stated it may levy tolls or other taxes on cargo after that period.
Iran and Oman, which controls the other side of the strait, said in a joint statement Tuesday they had “sovereign rights” in the waterway and would work together to regulate traffic and associated expenses.
Oman claimed it had worked with the International Maritime Organisation to set up a temporary corridor for vessels wanting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, on a tour to Gulf allies alarmed by the peace plan, said any final agreement would not allow Iran to collect tolls in the strait.
The agreement provides for an immediate stop to the war, including in Lebanon, removal of US sanctions on Tehran and the unfreezing of Iranian assets held overseas. It also sets forth a $300 billion fund to invest in reconstruction for the Islamic Republic.
FROZEN ASSETS, CLASH OVER NUCLEAR INSPECTIONS
The framework itself imposed no constraints on Iran’s nuclear program, to be negotiated over 60 days of talks.
Trump said Iran had agreed to provide international inspectors “anytime, anywhere” access to its damaged nuclear installations.”Iran has agreed to the most extensive nuclear inspections ever in perpetuity (Infinity!!!),” Trump said on social media.
Iran denied that it had discussed its nuclear program at the talks and said it had not agreed to allow International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors back into the country.
The two sides also disagreed on the terms of a provision that would allow Iran access to monies that have been frozen in international accounts.
Trump said any unfrozen assets would be used to buy food and medical supplies from the US. Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, Ali Bahreini, said Iran would decide how to spend the money.
Washington has agreed previously to suspend sanctions on Iran for 60 days, allowing Tehran to sell oil and related products and receive payment for them.
Israel’s parallel battle against Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon is still also a sticking point.
The pact calls for Israel to pull its troops out of Lebanon, Bahreini added. Israel, however, says it would keep a security zone in southern Lebanon and act to “neutralize” threats to Israeli soldiers and people.
Israeli gunfire killed two people in southern Lebanon on Tuesday even as Israel and Lebanon held new negotiations in Washington, the country’s civil defence and health ministries said, prompting Iran-backed Hezbollah to accuse Israel of breaking a ceasefire that has mainly held since Sunday.