US, Iran are in intense indirect talks for drafting final agreement: Report
Tehran, May 22
The United States and Iran are engaged in indirect talks aimed at developing a framework for a possible agreement, Iran's ISNA News Agency reported.
According to the report, the two sides are currently exchanging messages and draft texts. An Iranian official earlier told Al Jazeera that negotiators were "very close" to reaching an understanding.
The report also said that intensive mediation efforts are underway, with Mohsin Naqvi currently in Iran to discuss the status of the Strait of Hormuz.
However, Al Jazeera noted that it is still too early to determine whether a final agreement is within reach.
The talks come at a critical juncture as the US has coughed up much of its advanced missile defence interceptors' inventory after burning the candle at both ends for defending Israel using munitions as compared to Israel itself in its war with Iran, The Washington Post has learnt.
According to US officials who spoke to The Washington Post under condition of anonymity on Thursday (local time), the imbalance in the weighing scale raises concerns about the US's commitment to global security.
The United States launched more than 200 Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) interceptors to defend Israel along with more than 100 Standard Missile-3 and Standard Missile-6 interceptors fired from naval vessels in the eastern Mediterranean, emptying almost half of the Pentagon's inventory.
Israel, meanwhile, fired fewer than 100 of its Arrow interceptors and around 90 David's Sling interceptors, some of which were used against less sophisticated projectiles fired by Iran-backed groups in Yemen and Lebanon.
Earlier in the day, US President Donald Trump said that Iran will not get to keep the enriched uranium.
"We get the highly enriched. We will get it. We don't need it; we don't want it. We'll probably destroy it after we get it. But we're not going to let them have it. The Iran conflict. That'll end soon, very soon. And when it ends, your gasoline prices will go down lower than they were before." he said.
— ANI
Reader Comments
As an Indian, I'm worried about the humanitarian angle. Iran's people have suffered enough under sanctions. While I understand the nuclear concerns, endless conflict only harms civilians. Trump's "we'll destroy the uranium" line feels like posturing. India should advocate for diplomacy that respects Iran's sovereignty while ensuring non-proliferation.
Yaar, the numbers are staggering! 200+ THAAD interceptors used to defend Israel? That's almost half the US inventory. Meanwhile, India is buying S-400 from Russia and building our own systems. Shows why we need to be self-reliant in defense—can't depend on others who might empty their stockpiles elsewhere. Jai Hind! 🇮🇳
This is why India's "strategic autonomy" policy matters. We maintain good ties with Iran (Chabahar port) and the US simultaneously. The Strait of Hormuz is vital for our oil imports—any disruption could spike petrol prices here. Hope Mohsin Naqvi's mediation yields stability, but let's be real: these talks have failed before.
Trump saying "gasoline prices will go down" is peak American politics—everything tied to domestic convenience. But for India, it's deeper. We have 8 million diaspora in Gulf countries; a US-Iran conflict could endanger their lives and our remittances. The world needs mature diplomacy, not brinkmanship. My two paise. 💭
The article buries a crucial point: US missile inventories were depleted defending Israel, not America itself. This raises legitimate questions about global security commitments. How can India trust a partner whose stockpiles are stretched
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.