NPR
Trump says a deal with Iran and opening of Strait of Hormuz are 'largely negotiated'
+714 words added -856 words removed
− By
The Associated Press
In this photo released by the Iranian Presidency Office, President Masoud Pezeshkian, right, speaks with Pakistan's Army Chief Field Marshal Gen.
+ By
NPR Staff
In this photo released by the Iranian Presidency Office, President Masoud Pezeshkian, right, speaks with Pakistan's Army Chief Field Marshal Gen.
− Iranian Presidency Office via AP/Iranian Presidency Office hide caption
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — President Donald Trump said Saturday that a deal with Iran on the war, including opening the Strait of Hormuz, has been "largely negotiated" after calls with Israel and other allies in the region.
+ Iranian Presidency Office via AP/Iranian Presidency Office hide caption
An agreement to end the war in Iran and reopen the Strait of Hormuz has been "largely been negotiated," President Trump wrote in a social media post on Saturday, adding "final aspects and details of the Deal are currently being discussed, and will be announced shortly."
Trump said that he had spoken with the leaders of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan and Bahrain about a "Memorandum of Understanding pertaining to PEACE." He had also spoken to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by phone, which "went very well," he said.
− "Final aspects and details of the Deal are currently being discussed, and will be announced shortly," Trump said on social media, with no details.
+ But there was no official confirmation from Iran and the semi official Fars news agency indicated there were still wide disagreements.
− He said he had spoken with leaders from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan and Bahrain, and separately with Israel.
+ Some of those centered on the Strait of Hormuz, the shipping waterway largely controlled by Iran.
− He described it as a "Memorandum of Understanding pertaining to PEACE" that still must be finalized by the United States, Iran and the other countries that participated in the calls.
+ Fars said early Sunday that the agreement provided for Iran to continue to manage the waterway.
− It capped a week in which the U.S.
+ It called Trump's assertion that Iran would no longer control access "inconsistent with reality."
Since originally saying the war launched by the U.S.
− weighed a new round of attacks on the Islamic Republic that would break a fragile ceasefire.
+ and Israel on February 28th would be over in a matter of days, Trump has repeatedly announced the conflict is nearing an end, amid a fragile ceasefire, only for talks to fall through.
− There was no mention of Iran's nuclear program and highly enriched uranium, which Iran has sought to discuss later.
+ However, the latest announcement has been hailed by Pakistani mediators with Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar saying on X: "The achievements of these negotiations offer grounds for optimism that a positive and durable outcome is within reach."
And a spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry said earlier on Saturday that the US and Iran were in the "final stage" of a memorandum of understanding and "the positions of the two sides are becoming closer."
But the U.S.
− There was no immediate comment from Iran or Israel. Trump said speaking with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who had pressed the U.S. to go to war, went "very well."
There had been growing optimism among officials
Earlier on Saturday, a regional official with direct knowledge of the Pakistan-led mediation efforts said the U.S. and Iran were closing in on a deal to end the war.
+ and Iran still appear at odds on some key issues.
− The official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss closed-door deliberations, cautioned that "last-minute disputes" could blow up the efforts. This is not the first time in recent weeks that a deal has been described as close.
+ Trump said the deal would involve Iran reopening the Strait Hormuz, the blockade of which is reverberating across the global economy, with Americans facing high fuel prices as millions travel for the Memorial Day holiday this weekend.
− The official said the deal would include an official declaration of the war's end, with two-month negotiations on Iran's nuclear program. The Strait of Hormuz would be reopened and the U.S. would end its blockade of Iran's ports.
+ Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baqaei told semi-official Iranian state media on Saturday that the Strait had nothing to do with the US, adding that Tehran was engaging with Oman, which lies across the waterway, to decide what happens there.
− Iran, meanwhile, had signaled "narrowing differences" in negotiations after Pakistani army chief Asim Munir held more talks in Tehran.
+ The news agency, Tasnim, reported that the Strait of Hormuz would "not return to its pre-war status" under an agreement.
− Twelve weeks have passed since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran on Feb. 28, killing top Iranian officials including its supreme leader and interrupting nuclear talks between the U.S. and Iran for the second time in less than a year. Iran fired at Israel and at neighbors hosting U.S. forces, shaking Gulf nations that had considered themselves safe havens in a tough region.
+ There are also questions over Iran's nuclear program.
− A ceasefire has held since April 7.
+ While Trump wants Iran to renounce any nuclear ambitions, Iran wants a permanent end to the war before negotiations on nuclear weapons.
− But Iran's decision to effectively close the Strait of Hormuz for ships carrying regional oil, natural gas and other critical supplies has been a focal point of global concern and economic pain.
Iran described it as a 'framework agreement' for more talks
Iran state TV earlier quoted Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei as describing the draft as a "framework agreement" and adding: "We want this to include the main issues required for ending the imposed war and other issues of essential importance to us.
+ Iran also wants sanctions relief from the U.S.
− Then, over a reasonable time span, between 30 to 60 days, details are discussed and ultimately a final agreement is reached."
He said the Strait of Hormuz is among the topics discussed.
+ and other countries and reparations from the war.
− But Baghaei told Iran's official IRNA news agency that nuclear issues are not part of current negotiations.
+ It's expected that after any deal a period of one to two months of negotiations on Iran's nuclear program will follow.
− "Our focus at this stage is on ending the war on all fronts, including Lebanon," he said, adding that lifting sanctions on Tehran "has explicitly been included in the text and remains our fixed position."
The Iranian-backed Hezbollah's Al-Manar TV reported that the Lebanese militant group's leader received a letter from Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi saying Tehran will not abandon its allies. There is a fragile, U.S.-brokered ceasefire in the Israel-Hezbollah war in Lebanon, a conflict that began two days after the Iran war started.
+ Israel has made clear in past negotiations that it opposed a deal that provided any concessions to Iran.
− Trump had said 'serious negotiations' were underway
Trump earlier said he was holding off on a military strike against Iran because "serious negotiations" were underway, and at the request of allies in the Middle East. Trump has repeatedly set deadlines for Tehran and then backed off.
+ On Sunday, a senior Israeli official, writing on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly, said in a statement to reporters: "The emerging agreement is bad because it signals to the Iranians that they possess a weapon no less effective than a nuclear one, and that is the Strait of Hormuz."
The official said while Trump believes the agreement includes an opening of the Strait of Hormuz with progress linked to Iran dismantling its nuclear program it was not clear what would happen after the initial phase.
− Iran's parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, the lead negotiator in historic face-to-face talks with the U.S.
+ Trump has also been criticized by some members of his Republican party.
− last month in Islamabad, said Saturday that Iran has rebuilt its military assets and if Trump resumed attacks, the result would be "more crushing and more bitter" than at the start of the war.
+ Senator Ted Cruz of Texas said on X the president should stick to his "red lines," adding it would be a "disastrous mistake" if an agreement resulted in Iran being able to develop nuclear weapons and have control over the Strait of Hormuz.
− State TV said he spoke after meeting with Pakistan's army chief Asim Munir, who also met with Araghchi, President Masoud Pezeshkian and other senior officials.
+ Still, U.S.
− Qatar sent a senior official to Tehran to support Pakistan's efforts.
The war's stated aims have not been achieved.
+ Secretary of State Marco Rubio was positive overall on Sunday, speaking to reporters while on a trip to New Delhi.
− Iran still has its enriched uranium and a missile program it says is being rebuilt. It continues to express support for armed proxies in the region. The new supreme leader, though still unseen publicly since the war began, is the son of the previous one and close to the powerful Revolutionary Guard.
+ America's top diplomat said it was possible the world would get some "good news" in the coming hours, but added there was "still work to do."
NPR's Jane Arraf, Daniel Estrin, Chandelis Duster, Greg Myre, and Kate Bartlett contributed to this report.
− And the Iranian people have not revolted against the government as both Trump and Netanyahu had predicted after nationwide protests early this year.