The United States and Iran are negotiating a three-page plan to end the war, two U.S. officials and two other people with knowledge of the talks reported. One of the discussions was that the United States would release $20 billion in frozen Iranian funds in exchange for Iran giving up its stockpile of enriched uranium.
The report quoted a person familiar with the progress of the mediation as saying that the second round of talks between the United States and Iran is expected to be held in Islamabad, possibly on Sunday.
The report quoted sources as saying that in earlier stages of negotiations, the United States had prepared to release $6 billion for Iran to purchase food, medicine and other humanitarian supplies, while Iran requested $27 billion.
According to sources, the latest figure discussed by the United States and Iran is US$20 billion. A US official said that this is the plan proposed by the US. Another U.S. official described the idea of "cash for uranium" as "one of many discussions."
The report also stated that the United States required Iran to agree to transport all its nuclear materials to the United States, but Iran only agreed to "reduce the abundance" of these materials within its territory.
Under a compromise currently under discussion, some of the highly enriched uranium would be shipped to a third country, not necessarily the United States, and some would be down-enriched in Iran under international supervision.
The three-page memorandum of understanding also covers the Strait of Hormuz, but sources said the two sides still have major differences on the issue.