United States President Donald Trump says a possible agreement between Washington and Tehran to finish months of struggle is now “largely negotiated”, elevating hopes that tensions within the area may ease after a flurry of diplomatic overtures involving a number of international locations.
The proposed memorandum of understanding (MoU) reportedly consists of reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a significant transport lane for crude oil and gasoline, in addition to talks geared toward formally ending the US-Israel struggle on Iran.
Really useful Tales
checklist of three objectsfinish of checklist
However regardless of optimistic statements from Trump, Iranian officers say main disagreements stay, particularly over the standing of the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s nuclear programme and conflicts involving Tehran-backed teams in Lebanon.
So, what has Trump mentioned, what’s the pushback from Iran, and what are the important thing sticking factors?
What did Trump say?
The president mentioned on his social media platform Fact Social on Saturday that an settlement between the US, Iran and several other different international locations within the area had been “largely negotiated” and that closing particulars can be introduced quickly.
“An Settlement has been largely negotiated, topic to finalization between america of America, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the varied different International locations,” Trump wrote on Fact Social.
He mentioned the proposed settlement would come with reopening the Strait of Hormuz, which has remained successfully closed to most transport for the reason that US-Israel struggle on Iran started on February 28.
Trump described the proposal as a “Memorandum of Understanding pertaining to PEACE” and mentioned the discussions concerned Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkiye, Egypt, Jordan and Bahrain.
Trump mentioned he additionally spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and it “went very nicely”.
Sources instructed the Reuters information company the proposed framework would unfold in phases: formally ending the struggle, resolving the Strait of Hormuz disaster, and opening a 30-day negotiation window for a broader settlement on sustained peace, which may very well be prolonged.
Axios reported late on Saturday that Washington and Tehran had been near a deal, which it mentioned would come with no tolls on ships transiting the strait, whereas Iran would be capable to freely promote oil.
In trade, the US would raise its blockade on Iranian ports and waive some sanctions on Iranian oil, the US information outlet mentioned, citing a US official. The draft settlement additionally consists of commitments from Iran by no means to pursue nuclear weapons, Axios mentioned.
Additionally on Saturday, the New York Occasions reported that the draft settlement consists of an “obvious dedication” by Iran to give up its stockpile of extremely enriched uranium.
The report, citing two unnamed US officers, mentioned particulars of how Iran would switch or relinquish the fabric can be addressed at a later stage of the negotiations.
What has Iran mentioned?
Iranian officers have confirmed negotiations are ongoing and that some headway has been made. Nonetheless, they’ve pushed again towards a few of Trump’s claims.
The MoU between Tehran and Washington included a roadmap to finish the struggle on all fronts, Iran’s semi-official Tasnim information company reported, with the US waiving sanctions on Iranian oil throughout negotiations.
Iran has not but accepted any actions on its nuclear programme, Tasnim added, saying the potential settlement allocates 30 days for procedures associated to the Strait of Hormuz and 60 days for nuclear talks.
In the meantime, Iranian state-linked media Fars information company reported early on Sunday that the settlement would permit Iran to handle the Strait of Hormuz and that Trump’s assertion on the important thing waterway, via which nearly a fifth of the world’s oil transport as soon as handed, was “inconsistent with actuality”.
On Saturday, Iran’s Ministry of International Affairs spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei described the most recent proposal as a “framework settlement” or MoU that might first set up broad rules earlier than particulars are negotiated over 30 to 60 days.
“The development this week has been in the direction of a discount in disputes, however there are nonetheless points that should be mentioned via mediators. We must wait and see the place the scenario ends within the subsequent three or 4 days,” Baghaei mentioned.
He instructed Iran’s IRNA information company that Tehran’s rapid precedence was ending the struggle, stopping any future US assaults and the combating in Lebanon.
What are the primary sticking factors?
Strait of Hormuz
A serious dispute between Tehran and Washington is over the Strait of Hormuz, a important international transport route linking the Gulf to the Arabian Sea. One-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied pure gasoline (LNG) provides had been shipped via the strait earlier than the struggle started.
Iran insists on sovereignty over the waterway, which lies throughout the territorial waters of Iran and Oman and doesn’t fall into worldwide waters. It has additionally floated the thought of levying tolls whereas the US has demanded full freedom of navigation.
Iran, in impact, closed the strait by forbidding transits after the struggle started, attacking ships and reportedly laying sea mines.
Days after the ceasefire got here into impact on April 8, the US carried out a blockade of its personal. Its navy has been blocking Iranian ports to strain Tehran to reopen the very important waterway, including one other impediment to the talks.
Iran’s nuclear programme
One other important subject is Iran’s nuclear programme, particularly its stockpile of enriched uranium.
The US and Israel are demanding that Iran halt uranium enrichment fully, accusing it of searching for to develop a nuclear weapon, with out publicly presenting proof to help the declare.
Iran maintains that its nuclear programme is solely for civilian use. Tehran can be a signatory to the 1970 Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).
In 2015, the US joined the Joint Complete Plan of Motion (JCPOA) underneath then-President Barack Obama. Below the settlement, Iran agreed to cap uranium enrichment at 3.67 p.c — far under weapons-grade ranges — and permit inspections by the Worldwide Atomic Power Company (IAEA) to confirm that it was not pursuing nuclear weapons. In trade, worldwide sanctions on Iran had been eased.
Nonetheless, in 2018, throughout his first time period in workplace, Trump withdrew the US from the JCPOA, regardless of the IAEA stating that Iran had been complying with the settlement on the time.
In March 2025, Tulsi Gabbard, the incumbent director of nationwide intelligence, told Congress that businesses are persevering with “to evaluate that Iran will not be constructing a nuclear weapon”.
The US and Israel justified the struggle stating that Iran was on the verge of constructing nuclear weapons.
Is a deal achievable?
Iran skilled and cofounder of the Quincy Institute, Trita Parsi, says though the MoU agreed between Iran and the US didn’t embrace main substantive concessions from both facet, it was not less than an indication of willingness to maneuver in the direction of a broader deal.
“The reality evaluation of who blinked first is not going to come till we see what the ultimate consequence is, after we spend one other 30 days, and hopefully it received’t be longer than that till we get to a closing settlement on the nuclear subject,” Parsi instructed Al Jazeera.
He added that it was not clear if Iran would straight be given reparations for the battle, a key demand, however mentioned if sanctions are lifted and the nuclear subject addressed, “it will doubtless be a much bigger deal than the Obama settlement in 2015”.
Different analysts have identified that the acquiescence of Israel can be a key think about deciding whether or not a deal may be reached.
Tutorial Setareh Sadeqi mentioned a message was despatched to Trump that there’s a clear regional want to succeed in an settlement and make peace, however that the messaging has at occasions been contradictory.
“We [are] seeing each events say they’re very shut however very far, and that the army possibility continues to be on the desk,” Sadeqi, assistant professor of world research on the College of Tehran, instructed Al Jazeera.
She mentioned the problem for Trump is whether or not he can defy Israel’s pursuits and push the deal via, with Israel reportedly looking to scupper any agreement.
