Sri Lanka, May 18 -- The United States has reportedly agreed to a temporary lifting of sanctions on Iran's oil sector as part of a new draft negotiation framework between Washington and Tehran, according to Iran's semi-official Tasnim News Agency. The report said the latest text differs from previous proposals because it allows certain sanctions to be waived during the negotiation process itself rather than only after a final agreement is reached.

Citing a source familiar with the talks, Tasnim reported that Iran continues to insist on the complete removal of all US sanctions as a core condition for any long-term deal. Tehran has argued that sanctions relief must be guaranteed as part of Washington's commitments under a future agreement....