Iranian official says Tehran close to deal with US, few issues remain

TEHRAN, Iran — A senior Iranian official said on Wednesday that negotiations have advanced to later stages, with one or two issues still standing in the way of an agreement with the United States. The official said the outcome would resolve the core disputes between the two sides but did not identify the remaining points. The official also tied Tehran's position on shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz to steps taken by Washington. Any decision on closing or reopening the strategic waterway, the official said, would depend on US actions. The remarks came amid ongoing indirect talks between Iran and the United States over Tehran's nuclear program. The official said reciprocal steps between the two governments carry weight in the process but declined to provide further detail on the outstanding issues.