US-Iran Islamabad Declaration Delayed, Talks Set to Resume June 5

An interim US-Iran understanding known as the “Islamabad Declaration” was expected to be signed on Sunday but was postponed after the two sides remained split over two or three clauses in the draft memorandum, Reuters sources said. The delay pushes the next round of talks to June 5. US Secretary of State Rubio said the Strait of Hormuz is an international transit route and that Iran cannot claim rights over it. The remark came as the negotiations remained focused on narrowing differences in the draft text. Claims that Iran had agreed to hand over its stockpile of highly enriched uranium were denied by Tehran. An Iranian source stressed that Iran’s nuclear file is not part of the preliminary agreement. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has barred his ministers from commenting on the near agreement between the US and Iran. US President Trump is also reported to be preparing to disclose new details on an agreement with Tehran.