President Donald Trump has announced he is convening a meeting in the White House situation room to make a "final determination" on a deal to extend the ceasefire with Iran. This decision follows reports that negotiators from both sides have reached a tentative agreement to prolong the fragile truce by 60 days, while talks continue over Tehran's disputed nuclear program.
Tentative Agreement Amid Ongoing Hostilities
The tentative deal comes despite the United States and Iran trading fresh attacks in the three-month-long conflict. The agreement is understood to stipulate that Iran will not impose tolls on the Strait of Hormuz and must remove all mines from the strategic waterway within 30 days. The closure of this vital sea route by Iran during the conflict has sent shockwaves through global economies and led to a spike in fuel prices.
Trump's Conditions for the Deal
Writing on his Truth Social platform, Mr Trump outlined key conditions: "Iran must agree that they will never have a Nuclear Weapon or Bomb. The Hormuz Strait must be immediately open, no tolls, for unrestricted shipping traffic, in both directions. All water mines (bombs), if any, will be terminated (we have removed, through detonation, numerous such mines with our great underwater mine sweepers). Iran will complete the immediate removal and/or detonation of any mines that are left, which will not be many!"
He added that this would allow ships trapped by the armed stand-off to return home. Mr Trump also stated that Tehran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium would be destroyed. "No money will be exchanged, until further notice. Other items, of far less importance, have been agreed to. I will be meeting now, in the Situation Room, to make a final determination," he said.
