Scoop: U.S. and Iran reach deal but need Trump's final approval, officials say

U.S. and Iranian negotiators have reached an agreement on a 60-day memorandum of understanding to extend the ceasefire and launch negotiations on https://www.axios.com/world/iran" target="_blank">Iran's nuclear program, but President Trump has yet to give his final approval, two U.S. officials and a regional source involved in the mediation efforts tell Axios.

Why it matters: The signing of the MOU would be the most significant diplomatic breakthrough since the war started, but a final agreement that tackles Trump's nuclear demands would still require further intensive negotiations.

Behind the scenes: U.S. officials said terms of the deal were mostly agreed to as of Tuesday, but both sides still needed approval from senior leadership.

• The U.S. officials claimed the Iranians later came back and said they had the necessary approvals and were prepared to sign.

  Iran has not confirmed that.

• The U.S. negotiators briefed Trump on the details of the final deal, but he did not immediately sign off. "The president relayed to the mediators that he wants a couple of days to think about it," a U.S. official said.

Flashback: Trump and his advisers thought they were close to a deal several times at earlier stages in the war, but none materialized.

Zoom in: The U.S. officials said the 60-day MOU will state that shipping through the Strait of Hormuz will be "unrestricted." A U.S. official said this means no tolls and no harassment and that Iran will have to remove all mines from the strait within 30 days.

• The U.S. naval blockade will also be lifted, but that will happen in proportion to the restoration of commercial shipping, a U.S. official said.
• The MOU will include an Iranian commitment not to pursue a nuclear weapon, the officials said.

  It will also state that the first issues to be negotiated during the 60-day window will be how to dispose of Iran's highly enriched uranium and how to address Iranian enrichment.

• The U.S. will commit to discuss sanctions relief and the release of frozen Iranian funds as part of the negotiations.

  The MOU will also include a discussion of a mechanism to help Iran start receiving goods and humanitarian aid.