{"text":[[{"start":15.95,"text":"Donald Trump has told US negotiators “not to rush into a deal” with Iran that would lead to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, saying “both sides must take their time and get it right”."}],[{"start":27.9,"text":"The US president’s remarks, in a post to his Truth Social platform, came a day after he suggested that an agreement was close, claiming it had “largely been negotiated”."}],[{"start":37.25,"text":"On Saturday afternoon, Trump said “final aspects and details” of a deal that would open the Strait of Hormuz were “currently being discussed” and would “be announced shortly”."}],[{"start":48,"text":"The positive signals caused oil prices to fall below $100. The price of Brent crude, the international benchmark, fell by as much as 5 per cent to $98.24 while West Texas Intermediate fell by about the same to $91.45. Asian stocks climbed on Monday."}],[{"start":65.7,"text":"Trump tempered that optimism by posting on Sunday that the deal “isn’t even fully negotiated yet”."}],[{"start":72.65,"text":"A senior US administration official said the Iran agreement would not be signed on Sunday, but that progress had been made."}],[{"start":79.85000000000001,"text":"A diplomat briefed on the talks said the deal would in effect extend the fragile ceasefire by 60 days, during which the strait would gradually be reopened and the foundations would be laid for talks on Iran’s nuclear programme. "}],[{"start":92.75000000000001,"text":"The senior US administration official said the extension would allow negotiators to “reach final deal points”, including a mechanism for Iran to give up its stockpiles of highly enriched uranium. "}],[{"start":105.45000000000002,"text":"Iran’s ability to slow the flow of vessels through the strait to a trickle has triggered the worst global energy crisis in decades."}],[{"start":113.85000000000002,"text":"Experts urged caution on Sunday, saying oil prices would probably remain elevated for some time given the complexity of restarting energy flows and the need for clarity over the details of any peace deal. "}],[{"start":126.75000000000003,"text":"ClearView Energy Partners, an energy research firm, said it"}],[{"start":130.65000000000003,"text":"was too soon to expect fuel and energy costs to “tumble” towards prewar levels, as Trump predicted on Friday. "}],[{"start":138.30000000000004,"text":"“Demining the Strait, evacuating trapped tankers and restarting production could take weeks to months, and repairing damaged facilities, restoring prewar output levels, and restocking depleted inventories could take multiple calendar quarters to years,” it said in a report."}],[{"start":155.50000000000003,"text":"Trump said that a US Navy blockade on Iranian ports would “remain in full force and effect until an agreement is reached, certified and signed”."}],[{"start":164.30000000000004,"text":"“Both sides must take their time and get it right,” the US president added. “There can be no mistakes!”"}],[{"start":170.65000000000003,"text":"The senior US administration official said the deal, if finalised, would involve demining the Strait of Hormuz gradually, with the existing blockade loosened “proportionately”."}],[{"start":181.80000000000004,"text":"“The important part of how this is structured is, if Iran doesn’t perform, they don’t get anything,” the official said. “This is ‘trust but verify’ on steroids.”"}],[{"start":191.70000000000005,"text":"The apparent progress towards a deal came after several days of high-stakes talks in Tehran by Pakistani and Qatari mediators and growing signs that a long-awaited agreement could be coming together. "}],[{"start":202.65000000000003,"text":"On Saturday, people briefed on the agreement said it would include a commitment to discuss Tehran either diluting or handing over its stockpile of highly enriched uranium. The US would agree, in phases, to sanctions relief and unfreezing Tehran’s assets held overseas, depending on the progress of talks towards a final deal. "}],[{"start":221.75000000000003,"text":"The US and Israel launched strikes against Iran in late February. A fragile ceasefire has been in place since April 8, but attempts to broker a lasting end to hostilities have accelerated in recent days amid fears in the region that Trump was poised to resume strikes."}],[{"start":238.55000000000004,"text":"Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency, which is close to the Revolutionary Guards, said that under a “potential” memorandum of understanding, the number of vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz would return to prewar levels within 30 days. The US would reciprocate and remove its naval blockade. "}],[{"start":256.05000000000007,"text":"The US would also commit to waiving sanctions on Iranian oil and petrochemical products during the negotiation period, and release part of Tehran’s frozen assets, according to Tasnim. "}],[{"start":267.00000000000006,"text":"In his first public comment about the impending deal, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wrote on X that he and Trump “agreed that any final agreement with Iran must eliminate the nuclear danger. That means dismantling Iran’s nuclear enrichment sites and removing its enriched nuclear material from its territory”."}],[{"start":286.6000000000001,"text":"The senior US administration official said the proposed memorandum of understanding would ensure the US, its regional allies, the Iranians and their proxies all ceased fighting across the Middle East, but guaranteed Israel’s right to act “against imminent threats”."}],[{"start":303.30000000000007,"text":"Additional reporting by Humza Jilani in Islamabad"}],[{"start":314.55000000000007,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1779672909_1012.mp3"}