Trump has suggested that a deal with Iran could be reached soon
Hopes for a diplomatic resolution to the conflict between the US and Iran have grown following a statement by US President Donald Trump that an agreement could be signed in the coming days. At the same time, the Iranian side has reported that a final decision on the document has not yet been reached, writes Reuters.
If the agreement is concluded, it could mark the most significant diplomatic breakthrough since the start of the war, which has now been ongoing for three months. The conflict has claimed thousands of lives and caused global energy prices to rise after Iran almost completely blocked shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
Speaking to journalists at the White House, Donald Trump stated that the parties had reached an important settlement.
“We have just reached a major agreement regarding the war with Iran,” he said.
According to the US president, once the document is signed, the Strait of Hormuz will be officially reopened to shipping. Trump added that the signing could take place in the coming days, possibly this weekend in Europe. He also said that US Vice-President J.D. Vance would attend the ceremony.
When asked whether Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei had approved the agreement, Trump replied: “As far as I understand, the answer is yes.”
Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghai stated that a significant part of the agreement had already been agreed upon, but that Tehran was not prepared to compromise on its fundamental positions.
“We have not yet reached a final conclusion on this matter. This is a very important issue, which is currently being considered by the relevant decision-making bodies,” he noted.
Amid reports of a possible deal, global financial markets reacted with gains. Asian stock indices joined the global rally, whilst oil prices fell to their lowest level in the last two months.
Despite this, the situation around the Strait of Hormuz remains tense. According to a US official, the US military shot down two Iranian attack drones after they attempted to attack commercial vessels passing through the strategically important waterway.
Iranian state media also reported that the military had stopped one of the tankers from passing through the strait. Explosions were heard in the area on the morning of 12 June.
Trump’s statement came after his decision to call off planned strikes against Iran due to progress in the negotiations.
The US President described the document as a “very strong memorandum of understanding”, noting that it was to some extent conceptual in nature.
Trump has repeatedly emphasised that any peace deal must guarantee that Iran cannot develop nuclear weapons. Tehran continues to deny any intention to develop such weapons.
Iran’s demands include the lifting of international sanctions, the release of billions of dollars in frozen assets, and recognition of its control over the Strait of Hormuz.
“The most important thing is that Iran will not have nuclear weapons. This means they will not develop or acquire them,” Trump said during a telephone link-up at a campaign event.
Earlier that day, the US president had stated that the United States could launch a powerful strike against Iran and was seeking to take control of the country’s oil hub on the island of Khark in the future.
The conflict has become a serious political challenge for the White House. According to polls, Trump’s approval rating is falling amid voter dissatisfaction with high fuel prices. Some Republicans also fear that the unpopularity of the war could negatively affect the party’s results in the midterm congressional elections in November.
At the same time, Trump is facing pressure from hardliners within the Republican Party who insist that any deal must definitively block Tehran’s path to nuclear weapons.
The stance of other Middle Eastern states also remains significant. Donald Trump stated on social media that the agreement had been backed by Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
At the same time, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated after his conversation with the US President that Israel is not a party to the memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran.
The statement noted that Netanyahu expressed his gratitude to Trump for his efforts to reach an agreement that would provide for the removal of enriched materials, the dismantling of enrichment infrastructure, restrictions on missile production and the cessation of support for Iran’s regional allies.
Tehran, for its part, is demanding an end to Israeli strikes in Lebanon, where a conflict is ongoing between Israel and the Iranian-backed group Hezbollah.
