Donald Trump has claimed that a peace deal with Iran has been 'largely negotiated', potentially ending the war launched by the US and Israel in February. In a post on his social media platform, Trump said a memorandum of understanding was being finalised and would be announced shortly, including the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
However, Iran's Fars news agency, close to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, reported that the strait would remain under Iranian control, calling Trump's assertion 'inconsistent with reality'. The agency stated that management of the strait, including determining routes and issuing permits, would remain a monopoly of Iran.
Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif later congratulated Trump on his peace efforts and said Pakistan hoped to host another round of talks 'very soon'. Sharif described a call between Trump and leaders from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey, Egypt, the UAE, Jordan, and Pakistan as 'very useful and productive'.
Details of the potential deal remain sparse, but reports suggest it could include a 60-day ceasefire, reopening of the strait with no tolls, free sale of Iranian oil, and negotiations on Iran's nuclear programme. In exchange, the US would lift its blockade on Iranian ports. Three senior Iranian officials told the New York Times the agreement could release $25bn in frozen Iranian assets.
The announcement came amid continued threats from Trump, who had told CBS and Axios he would only sign a deal 'where we get everything we want', and would resume strikes if no deal was reached. The news has dismayed Republican hawks who had long called for military action against Iran.
