The United States and Iran may be close to reaching a provisional agreement. Several core demands previously made by the US, such as Iran suspending its nuclear activities, limiting its missile program, and ceasing support for so-called "regional proxies," were not included in the draft agreement. This still-developing agreement centers on a short-term memorandum of only one page, rather than a comprehensive peace agreement. This reflects the deep differences between the two sides and also means that the agreement is only a transitional step. Informed officials said that Iran is reviewing this draft agreement, which aims to stop the fighting but leaves the most contentious issues to be resolved at a later date. According to sources and officials, the agreement will include three phases: first, formally ending the fighting; second, resolving the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz; and finally, opening a 30-day negotiation window to strive for a broader agreement. The agreement failed to address key US demands such as Iran suspending its nuclear activities and reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Furthermore, the agreement did not address several demands that the US had made but which Iran rejected, such as limiting Iran's missile program and requiring Iran to stop supporting so-called "proxy armed groups" such as Hezbollah in Lebanon. (Xinhua)