U.S. President Donald Trump [Reuters=Yonhap News. Reproduction and DB prohibited]

U.S. President Donald Trump has not approved the draft memorandum of understanding (MOU) to end the war between the United States and Iran, the U.S. daily New York Times (NYT) reported on the 30th (local time).

Although U.S. and Iranian officials had previously reached a tentative agreement on the ceasefire MOU, both countries were left only with final approval procedures. President Trump effectively blocked this by refusing it.

Citing three officials, the NYT reported that President Trump has strengthened the terms of the tentative agreement included in the ceasefire MOU and sent a document reflecting the related revisions back to Iran.

The specific details of the revisions have not yet been confirmed.

However, officials said President Trump has expressed concerns about the tentative agreement, which includes the lifting of asset freezes on Iran.

President Trump has sharply criticized the Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA - Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) signed by the previous Barack Obama administration, and directly withdrew from the JCPOA in 2018, arguing that the U.S. made too many concessions in the process of lifting sanctions and other measures against Iran.

Furthermore, President Trump was reportedly displeased that Iran took too long to respond to the U.S. proposal.

An official suggested that President Trump's offer of a tougher new proposal could be an attempt to pressure Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei to quickly accept the existing proposal.

Earlier, President Trump discussed the approval of the ceasefire MOU at a meeting in the White House Situation Room on the 29th, but the meeting concluded without any announcement.

The draft MOU reportedly includes extending the ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran by 60 days, fully opening the Strait of Hormuz, and reaching an agreement on Iran's denuclearization during the extended ceasefire period.

U.S. media also reported that the U.S. agreed to ease sanctions on Iran in line with the nuclear negotiation progress and discuss the release of Iran's frozen assets. (Yonhap News)