President Donald Trump said Saturday that a broader agreement between the United States and Iran has been “largely negotiated” and that the Strait of Hormuz would be reopened, signaling potential momentum toward ending the monthslong war.
“An Agreement has been largely negotiated, subject to finalization between the United States of America, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the various other Countries,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Iran’s state-affiliated Fars news agency has disputed Trump’s characterization, reporting that the Strait of Hormuz will remain under Iranian control according to the latest version of the proposal exchanged between the US and Iran.
Recent versions of the memorandum of understanding that Trump appears close to finalizing would end hostilities with Iran while gradually reopening the Strait of Hormuz and ending the US blockade of Iranian ports, according to a person familiar with the matter.
The agreement would unfreeze some Iranian assets that are held in banks outside Iran.
And it would start a clock of at least 30 days for continued negotiations meant to resolve the remaining sticking points on Iran’s nuclear program, including what happens to Tehran’s stockpile of near-weapons-grade uranium.
Trump said the final details were still being sorted out, and it remained possible that some aspects of the memo could change.
Fars News said that Trump’s claims about the Strait reopening are “not true” and “inconsistent with reality.”
“Although Iran has agreed to allow the number of passing vessels to return to pre-war levels, this in no way means ‘free passage’ as it existed before the war,” the outlet reported.
The deal is expected to unfold in two phases, a regional source with knowledge of the negotiations told CNN.
In the first phase, Iran will reopen the Strait of Hormuz to its pre-war status with shipping security in the region ensured, and provide assurances that it will not pursue nuclear weapons, the source said. Iran will also be allowed to resume the sale of fuel and oil.
The second phase, lasting 30-60 days, will focus on detailed negotiations over the nuclear issue and other, broader issues, the source said.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated Trump on his “extraordinary efforts to pursue peace,” on X early Sunday, but did not refer to any agreement or the Strait of Hormuz. Islamabad has been a key mediator in talks between Washington and Tehran.
Instead, he mentioned a “very useful and productive telephone call” held by Trump with leaders of several Gulf states, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, and Pakistan, represented by the country’s military chief Asim Munir.
“The discussions provided a useful opportunity to exchange views on the current regional situation and how to move the ongoing peace efforts forward,” Sharif added.
Trump said his call with regional leaders involved negotiations surrounding Iran and what he described as a memorandum of understanding tied to “PEACE.”
The leaders urged Trump during the call to accept the proposed framework with Iran, according to a person briefed on the discussion, who described the conversation as encouraging. Another regional source characterized the talks as positive.
“The call was very positive. Good progress is being made. Regional leaders were supportive of the progress and of the breakthrough President Trump achieved with the talks,” a regional diplomat on the call told CNN.
Trump said he held a separate call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, “which, likewise, went very well.”
“Final aspects and details of the Deal are currently being discussed and will be announced shortly. In addition to many other elements of the Agreement, the Strait of Hormuz will be opened,” he said.
Israel’s main concern is that there will be a narrow interim agreement that will extend the ceasefire, open the Strait of Hormuz and gradually ease sanctions on Iran, while not addressing the most critical points for Israel —Tehran’s nuclear program and enriched uranium, an Israeli source said. The US continued to reassure Israel on the uranium issue.
Netanyahu will convene a limited security consultation on Saturday evening with select ministers and security officials to discuss the developments in Iran negotiations, the source told CNN.
Trump, speaking to Axios in a phone interview earlier, described the chances of reaching an agreement with Iran as a “solid 50/50” before the call with Gulf and other regional leaders, adding that he could decide by Sunday whether to resume military action.
The president said the talks could either lead to a “good” deal or result in the US choosing to “blow them to kingdom come.”
US and Iranian officials suggested that they may be closer to reaching a framework agreement to end the war after mediators from Qatar and Pakistan held talks in Tehran on Saturday. One regional source said the US and Iran were moving closer to an agreement to work toward a more detailed deal in the future.
Trump told Axios he also planned to speak with envoy Steve Witkoff and adviser Jared Kushner, his son-in-law. Vice President JD Vance, meanwhile, was spotted arriving at the White House on Saturday.
Mike Pompeo, who served as secretary of state during Trump’s first administration, criticized the reported deal and compared it to Obama-era agreements. “Not remotely America First,” he wrote on X.
