Iran has dismissed suggestions that a deal with the United States is imminent, with a spokesman for the country’s negotiating team pointing to confusion in US positions and Israeli interference as obstacles to a complete agreement. Speaking at a weekly press briefing, Esmail Baghaei said that while progress had been made on a large portion of issues, no one could claim a deal was about to be signed.
Baghaei insisted that any memorandum of understanding must include a ceasefire in Lebanon, and that the future management of the Strait of Hormuz was a matter for Oman and Iran. He clarified that proposed fees were for navigational services, not tolls. The agreement would allow Iranian commercial shipping through the strait in exchange for the US lifting its blockade of Iran’s ports.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio remained hopeful, stating that a “pretty solid thing” was on the table regarding the strait and nuclear negotiations. He emphasised that either a good deal would be reached or the US would deal with the issue in another way. Meanwhile, the US military’s Central Command announced strikes on southern Iran in “self-defence,” targeting missile launch sites and boats laying mines.
President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that the deal would either be “great and meaningful, or there will be no deal at all.” He called on several countries, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey, to join the Abraham Accords and normalise relations with Israel. Trump claimed he had spoken to their leaders about the proposal.
Former US assistant secretary Barbara Leaf said there were no takers among those not yet part of the Accords, describing the proposal as being met with “stunned silence.” Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid labelled the emerging deal “disturbing and bad for the region,” adding that the Israeli government’s ability to influence Washington was at an all-time low.
