United States President Donald Trump has claimed that Washington and Tehran are close to reaching a major agreement aimed at ending months of conflict in the Middle East, raising hopes of easing tensions across the region. Trump said a proposed memorandum of understanding had been “largely negotiated” and that final details could be announced soon.
According to reports, the draft agreement includes reopening the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important oil shipping routes, and beginning negotiations to formally end the US-Israel war on Iran. Trump said regional countries including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkiye, the UAE, Egypt, Jordan and Bahrain were involved in the diplomatic process.
Despite the optimism from Washington, Iranian officials say several key disputes remain unresolved. Tehran has rejected claims that it has agreed to surrender control over the Strait of Hormuz or halt its nuclear programme. Iranian media reported that the proposed framework only outlines broad principles, while detailed negotiations could continue for another 30 to 60 days.
The biggest disagreements continue to centre on freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, sanctions on Iranian oil exports and Iran’s uranium enrichment activities. Analysts believe Israel’s position and future US guarantees will also play a decisive role in determining whether a final deal can be achieved.
