Trump says Iran deal ‘largely negotiated’, Iranian news agency disputes strait reopening claim

WASHINGTON/ISLAMABAD/NEW DELHI – A “largely negotiated” memorandum of understanding on an Iran peace deal would reopen the Strait of Hormuz, US President Donald Trump said on May 23, although the Iranian Fars news agency disputed that claim.

Mr Trump posted on social media that the emerging agreement would reopen the strait, a vital shipping passage whose closure upended global energy markets after the conflict started in February when the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran.

He did not say what else would be included in an agreement. “Final aspects and details of the Deal are currently being discussed, and will be announced shortly,” he wrote on Truth Social.

But Fars reported early on May 24 that the agreement would allow Iran to manage the Strait of Hormuz and that Mr Trump’s assertion on the strait was “inconsistent with reality”.

Iran had said on May 23 that it was working towards a memorandum of understanding laying out an approach to ending the war after its top officials met Mr Asim Munir, the army chief of Pakistan.

The Pakistani army said the negotiations had resulted in “encouraging” progress towards a final understanding. Two Pakistani sources involved in negotiations said the deal being worked on is “fairly comprehensive to terminate the war”.

A post on the X account of Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised Mr Trump for his “extraordinary efforts to pursue peace”.

Sources have told Reuters the proposed ‌framework would unfold in three stages: formally ending the war, resolving the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz and launching a 30-day window for negotiations on a broader agreement, which can be extended.

One of the Pakistani sources said if the US accepts the memorandum, further talks could take place after the Eid holiday ends on May 29.

Trump to speak with Middle East leaders

The US President, whose approval ratings have been hit by the war’s impact on energy prices for US consumers, said on May 22 he would not attend his son’s wedding this weekend, citing Iran among the reasons he planned to stay in Washington.

Mr Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform that he had a phone call on May 23 with leaders from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Egypt, Turkey and Pakistan.

Axios reported that the leaders encouraged Mr Trump to agree to the emerging framework.

A separate call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu went “very well”, Mr Trump wrote.

Pakistan has aimed to narrow differences between Iran and the US after weeks of war have left the vital Hormuz waterway closed to most shipping despite a ceasefire.

Mr Trump has repeatedly said the US struck Iran to prevent it from obtaining nuclear weapons. Iran has denied it is pursuing nuclear weapons and said it has a right to enrich uranium for civilian purposes.

Said Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei: “The trend this week has been towards a reduction in disputes, but there are still issues that need to be discussed through mediators. We will have to wait and see where the situation ends in the next three or four days.”

Tehran has demanded supervision of the strait, an end to the US blockade on its ports and the lifting of sanctions on Iranian oil sales.

Mr Baghaei added that the issue of the US blockade on Iran’s shipping was important, but that its priority was ending the threat of new US attacks and the ongoing conflict in Lebanon, where Iran-allied Hezbollah militants are fighting Israeli troops who have moved into the south.

Pakistan’s army chief Munir left Tehran on May 23 after talks with Iran’s top negotiator Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

Mr Qalibaf said Iran’s armed forces had rebuilt their capabilities during the ceasefire and that, if the US “foolishly restarts the war”, the consequences would be “more forceful and bitter” than at the start of the conflict.

Despite weeks of conflict, Iran has preserved its stockpile of near-weapons-grade enriched uranium as well as missile, drone and proxy capabilities. REUTERS