new delhi, May 6
In a major development towards ending the conflict in the Middle East, US President Donald Trump on Wednesday hinted that Washington will end Operation Epic Fury and lift the military blockade in the Strait of Hormuz assuming Tehran “agrees to give what has been agreed to.”
“Assuming Iran agrees to give what has been agreed to, which is, perhaps, a big assumption, the already legendary Epic Fury will be at an end, and the highly effective Blockade will allow the Hormuz Strait to be OPEN TO ALL, including Iran,” Trump said on Truth Social.
He, however, added that the US will start bombing Iran at a “much higher level and intensity” than before if Tehran refuses to agree to sign a deal.
“If they don’t agree, the bombing starts, and it will be, sadly, at a much higher level and intensity than it was before,” he added.
His remarks came shortly after a report by Axios claimed that the White House is nearing an MoU with Iran to end the war and lay a framework for talks on the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program.
Citing two US officials and two other sources briefed on the issue, the report said that the proposal has been sent to Iran and that the US expects a response within the next 48 hours.
The proposal, added the report, consists of 14 points, and is being crafted by Trump’s Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff and the president’s aide and son-in-law Jared Kushner, in collaboration with several Iranian officials. “The plan would reportedly declare an end to the war and trigger a 30-day negotiation period, in pursuit of an agreement to open the Strait of Hormuz, limit Iran’s nuclear program, and lift US sanctions on the regime,” the outlet reported.
According to the report, the US has sought a moratorium on all uranium enrichment by Iran for at least 12 years. Earlier, the US was reportedly demanding Iran suspend its nuclear activities for at least 20 years. Tehran had agreed to a five-year pause on nuclear enrichment.
