US-Iran peace talks: Trump says Tehran deal ‘largely negotiated’, Strait of Hormuz to be opened | Today’s news
US President Donald Trump announced on Saturday (local time) that the Iran deal had been “largely negotiated” and added that the Strait of Hormuz would be opened as part of the deal.
He announced in a Truth Social post, writing: “The deal has been largely negotiated, subject to finalization between the United States of America, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and various other countries as listed. Separately, I had a phone call with Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu of Israel, which also went very well. The final aspects and details of the deal are currently being discussed, and other elements of the Straits Agreement, apart from the Hormu Agreement, will be announced and announced. It will be open.”
His remarks came shortly after he was on the phone with Gulf leaders to review the latest proposal sent by Iran and Pakistan. The US president said he had a “very good conversation” with the leaders of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan and Bahrain.
He specified that the call was about the Islamic Republic of Iran and “all matters related to the MoU related to peace.”
Regional leaders urged Trump to adopt the framework
CNN reported that during the call, regional leaders urged the US president to accept the proposed framework with Iran. The report, citing sources, added that the conversation between the world leaders was “encouraging”, while another said the talks were “positive”.
Citing a regional diplomat, CNN added: “The call was very positive. There is good progress. Regional leaders supported the progress and the breakthrough that President Trump made during the negotiations.”
Read also | US-Iran peace deal: Negotiators signal progress, say deal in final stages
Pakistan and Qatari mediators held talks in Iran
The development comes a day after Pakistani Field Marshal Asim Munir and Qatari mediators arrived in Tehran to negotiate a peace deal between the United States and Iran aimed at ending the roughly three-month-old war. Media reports indicated that Munir, who left for Islamabad on Saturday afternoon, reportedly made at least two phone calls to US intermediaries, including Vice President JD Vance, in the past 24 hours.
In addition, media reports, citing officials with direct knowledge of the Pakistan-led talks, said the sides had made “significant progress” in the talks, but warned that “last-minute disputes” could derail the effort. It’s not the first time in recent weeks that a deal has been labeled a done deal.
He said the potential deal would include an official declaration of an end to the war with two months of negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program. The Strait of Hormuz would be reopened and the US would end the blockade of Iranian ports.
Reports indicated that although the agreement had not been finalized, Pakistani sources said there had been “encouraging progress towards a final understanding”.
Reuters reported that the proposed interim agreement is now in its final stages. She also added that Islamabad and Tehran have submitted a revised proposal to Washington for consideration, which aims to end the conflict.
Read also | Iran, US move closer to 14-point peace framework, gaps remain
Trump expresses optimism, Iran signals narrowing of differences
Trump expressed optimism about the deal. In an interview with CBS News, the US president said he had seen a draft of Iran’s proposal and noted that the two sides were moving closer to a potential deal. But he declined to say whether he would support the bill, adding that he could not comment on it until he informed the other side.
Meanwhile, Iran signaled “narrowing differences” in talks with the US after Munir held more talks in Tehran, and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters in India that “there has been some progress” and “maybe there will be new news today”.
Iran describes the proposal as a “framework agreement”
Earlier on Saturday, Iranian state television quoted Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei as describing the proposal as a “framework agreement,” adding: “We want it to include the main issues needed to end the imposed war and other issues that are essential to us. Then, within a reasonable time frame, between 30 and 60 days, the details will be discussed and finally a final agreement will be reached.”
Baghaei also said the issue of the Strait of Hormuz, which has been effectively closed by Tehran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) since the start of the war in late February, is among the topics discussed.
He went on to say, “Over the past week there has been a trend towards narrowing the gap. We will have to wait and see what happens over the next three or four days.”
Read also | The US claims “little progress” as the Iran deal remains in limbo
A State Department spokesman elaborated on the draft proposal, saying nuclear issues are not part of the current talks as Tehran seeks to end the war first before discussing its nuclear program, which has long been at the heart of international tensions.
“At this stage, we are focused on ending the war on all fronts, including Lebanon,” Baghaei said, adding that the lifting of sanctions against Tehran “is explicitly included in the text and remains our firm position.”
