Trump Says Agreement to End Iran Standoff ‘Largely Negotiated’

The United States and Iran have nearly reached a “Memorandum of Understanding pertaining to PEACE,” President Donald Trump announced on May 23.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump announced he had concluded a set of talks with leaders of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Egypt, Bahrain, Jordan, Turkey, and Pakistan regarding efforts to resolve the current armed standoff with Iran.

“An Agreement has been largely negotiated, subject to finalization between the United States of America, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the various other Countries, as listed,” Trump wrote.

The U.S. president said some final aspects of the deal are still being discussed.

He said he held a separate phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday, which also “went very well.”

During a visit to India earlier on Saturday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters “there’s been some progress done, some progress made,” in negotiations with Iran.

“Even as I speak to you now, there’s some work being done. There is a chance that, whether it’s later today, tomorrow, in a couple of days, we may have something to say,” Rubio added.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said on Saturday that Washington and Tehran were moving closer to a shared understanding to end the conflict.

Pakistani Army Chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, who has served as a key intermediary for talks, concluded a visit to Tehran on Saturday. The Pakistani military’s public relations office described Muni’s visit as “short but highly productive,” and yielding “encouraging progress towards a final understanding.”

Though U.S. and Iranian officials have both stoked anticipation for a deal, their varying public statements indicate lingering tensions.

Rubio reiterated Trump’s stance that Iran can never be allowed to obtain nuclear weapons. The secretary of state said Iran must give up their stockpiles of highly-enriched uranium.

“We need to address that issue; we need to address the issue of enrichment,” Rubio said.

Tehran has amassed a stockpile of highly-enriched uranium while claiming its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes. Iranian officials have also described its nuclear program and its ability to enrich nuclear fuel as the inalienable sovereign rights of the Persian state.

Rubio also called for the Strait of Hormuz to be opened to safe transit, without mariners having to pay tolls.

After U.S. and Israeli forces launched strikes against Iran, Iranian forces began targeting commercial shipping through the Strait as part of their retaliatory strategy. More recently, Iran has moved to formalize its control over the waterway by implementing a toll for safe passage. Trump, in turn, has implemented a U.S. blockade of Iranian ports and maritime trade.

Baqaei said the main focus of the current negotiations is a 14-point memorandum of understanding to conclude the armed conflict, end the U.S. blockade, and wind back sanctions to allow the release of blocked Iranian assets.

He added that this initial memorandum could set the stage for later talks, potentially 30 to 60 days later, on Iran’s nuclear program and other points of contention.