(Adds quote from White House, report details, paragraphs 2-5)
WASHINGTON, June 8 (Reuters) – The White House on Thursday denied a report that the United States and Iran were close to reaching an interim deal under which Iran would curtail its nuclear program in exchange for a easing of penalties.
“This report is false and misleading,” a White House National Security Council spokesman said, referring to an article on the Middle East Eye website. “All reports of an interim agreement are false.”
The report cites two unnamed sources as saying that Iran and the United States are “approaching a temporary agreement that would trade sanctions relief for a reduction in Iranian uranium enrichment activities.”
He also quoted the sources as saying that “both parties have reached an agreement on a temporary deal to present to their respective superiors.”
Report says Iran would pledge to stop enriching uranium to 60% purity or higher and continue to cooperate with UN nuclear watchdog in return for export permission up to 1 million barrels of oil a day and to have access “to its earnings and other funds frozen overseas.” (Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt; Writing by Arshad Mohammed; Editing by Chris Reese and Lisa Shumaker )