US official says parties can still walk away from Iran deal, sequencing will be key
Key Details and Implications of the Iran Memorandum of Understanding
By Katharine Jackson and Gram Slattery
Overview of the Upcoming Agreement
WASHINGTON, June 17 (Reuters) - Both Iran and the U.S. can walk away from the memorandum of understanding they are set to sign on Friday, and upcoming talks are likely to focus on the precise sequencing of the steps previewed in the preliminary accord, a senior U.S. official told reporters on Wednesday.
Critical Meetings in Switzerland
Speaking on condition of anonymity, the official read out the 14-point memorandum that is due to be formally signed in Switzerland. They said upcoming meetings there will be "critical" for ensuring that the memorandum of understanding can evolve into a comprehensive agreement.
Importance of Sequencing in Negotiations
"I think the meeting in Switzerland will be quite critical in order to really see how we get to the next phase," a senior U.S. official said.
"It has to be a situation where both parties... agree on the full magnitude of what both parties are going to do, and then come up with a sequencing agreement on who's going to do what when, and that's really where the crux of the negotiations will go."
Terms and Reactions to the Memorandum
The document, as read out by the official, was similar to the 14-point memorandum that various media outlets, including Reuters, had already reported on earlier in the day.
Key Provisions of the MoU
Under the terms of the MoU, an extendable 60-day negotiation period will begin upon the signing of the preliminary accord.
Iran will allow toll-free passage through the Strait of Hormuz for 60 days, and the Islamic Republic will later discuss the strait's administration with Oman and other Gulf powers.
Iran's Commitments and International Response
One senior official said as part of the MoU, Iran had agreed - at a minimum - to the "downblending" of the highly enriched uranium in its possession.
Israeli Prime Minister's Position
The officials said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who had previously said he had not seen the formal MoU, had not asked for a copy to their knowledge.
Reporting and Editing Credits
(Reporting by Katharine Jackson and Gram Slattery; Editing by Michelle Nichols and Bill Berkrot)