Trump says Iran war deal will be announced ‘soon’ as fate of Strait of Hormuz hangs in the balance – What we know so far | Today’s news
President Trump said on Saturday that a deal to end the war with Iran would be announced “soon” and that the “final aspects” were currently being negotiated. The Iran peace deal aims to end the war, gradually open the Strait of Hormuz and begin at least 30 days of more detailed negotiations on issues including Iran’s nuclear program.
Diplomatic efforts to end the US-Israeli war on Iran reached a crossroads on Saturday as President Donald Trump acknowledged that a final deal remains uncertain and told Axios that he is considering whether to strike a peace deal or resume hostilities.
The fate of the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly a fifth of the world’s oil reserves pass, is at the heart of the negotiations.
Trump describes the deal as largely negotiated, but the outcome uncertain
Trump announced via his Truth Social platform that a peace deal with Iran “has been largely negotiated” after phone calls with Pakistani mediator Field Marshal Asim Munir, Gulf allies and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He described his conversation with Netanyahu as one that “went very well.”
However, Trump told Axios that the outcome was “solid 50/50” as to whether he would be able to make a “good” deal or “throw them out of the kingdom.” He added: “I think one of two things will happen: either I’ll hit them harder than they’ve ever been hit, or we’ll sign a good deal.”
Later Saturday, he met with top advisers Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, along with Vice President JD Vance, to review Iran’s latest response.
What the proposed memorandum of understanding would contain
According to Donald Trump’s social media post and confirming accounts from Iranian and regional officials, the tentative framework being discussed, described as a memorandum of understanding, would cover several key provisions. Trump wrote that “the final aspects and details of the agreement are currently being discussed and will be announced soon,” adding, “Among many other elements of the agreement, the Strait of Hormuz will be opened.”
A spokesman for Iran’s foreign ministry confirmed that the two sides were in the “final stage of discussions”, saying the memorandum of understanding would address the gradual reopening of the strait, the lifting of the US naval blockade of Iranian ports and the release of frozen Iranian funds. A 30- to 60-day negotiation period for a more comprehensive agreement would follow.
Three senior Iranian officials told The New York Times that the deal would halt fighting in both Iran and Lebanon and could free up about $25 billion in Iranian assets held overseas.
Iran disputes Trump’s characterization of the deal’s progress
Despite cautious optimism expressed by some officials, Iran’s Fars news agency, which has close ties to the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, pushed back against Trump’s framing. The agency said the Strait of Hormuz would remain under Iranian control and that Trump’s claim that the deal was almost complete was “contrary to reality.”
A regional official with direct knowledge of the Pakistan-led mediation effort told The Associated Press that while progress had been made, “last-minute disputes” could still derail the effort.
The most contentious point remains the nuclear program
The issue of Iran’s nuclear program looms large over the talks as the most intractable issue. On Saturday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said there had been “some progress” in negotiations and “maybe some news today,” but stressed that Iran “can never have a nuclear weapon and must give up its enriched uranium” and that the Strait of Hormuz must be fully reopened “without charge.”
Trump separately told Axios that he would only accept a deal that addresses uranium enrichment and the fate of Iran’s existing stockpiles, but analysts and officials noted that those issues are unlikely to be resolved in any preliminary memorandum. Iran sought to postpone the nuclear negotiations to a later stage.
Pakistan’s mediation efforts and regional diplomacy
Pakistani Field Marshal Asim Munir, who served as the main mediator between Washington and Tehran, left Iran on Saturday after holding talks with top officials in an effort to push the deal over the line. Pakistan said there had been “encouraging progress towards a final understanding”, although no agreement had been reached before his departure.
Regional mediators including Qatar, Egypt, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have engaged in intense shuttle diplomacy over the past 24 hours, holding numerous calls with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Witkoff. Trump was also expected to hold a conference call with Gulf leaders, with the leaders of Egypt, Pakistan and Turkey among the expected participants.
Netanyahu described as “torn” as Israel insists on continued strikes
Israel’s position on the emerging agreement further complicated the negotiations. Trump described Netanyahu as “torn,” and a senior Israeli official confirmed that the prime minister and his aides remained in close contact with the White House. Israeli officials have privately urged Trump to launch another round of strikes rather than accept the deal now on the table, believing military pressure could produce more favorable terms.
Sen. Lindsey Graham told Axios that there are differences of opinion among regional leaders and White House advisers. “Some leaders in the region have urged President Trump to strike Iran to weaken the regime and reach a deal on better terms,” he said, while others argued that the deal currently available should be accepted and warned that “if attacked, Iran has the ability to destroy significant oil operations in the Persian Gulf.”
Graham expressed skepticism about warnings that Iran could not be deterred in the Strait even after a major military campaign. “Consider me a strong skeptic that Iran cannot be stopped from terrorizing the Strait of Hormuz and that we cannot defend vital interests in the region after massive attacks against Iran – if they were truly wiped out, they should be able to do neither,” he said. “Time will tell. I’m still hoping for a good result.”
Trump rejected the suggestion that Netanyahu was “concerned” about the negotiated terms, although he acknowledged that “some people would much rather make a deal and some people would much rather renew the war”.
