Trump touts – President Trump says negotiations to end Iran’s war are moving in an “orderly and constructive manner,” but he also warns negotiators “not to rush into a deal” and leaves crucial questions unanswered. Iran’s position on the Strait of Hormuz remains contested,
For millions of Americans driving to Memorial Day getaways. the Strait of Hormuz is supposed to be a quiet artery of global commerce. This week, it has not been. Iran has permitted ships to pass in the past 24 hours. while Trump insists his negotiators can afford patience as the war talks inch forward.
On Sunday. President Donald Trump wrote that negotiations to end the war in Iran are proceeding “in an orderly and constructive manner. ” adding he had told his negotiators “not to rush into a deal” because “time is on our side.” He said the blockade on the Strait of Hormuz would remain in full force “until an agreement is reached. certified. and signed.” He also followed up remarks from a day earlier. when he said a deal to end the war and reopen the strait had been “largely been negotiated.”.
Trump’s optimism was bolstered by the diplomatic contact he described on Saturday. He said he spoke with the leaders of Saudi Arabia. the United Arab Emirates. Qatar. Pakistan. Turkey. Egypt. Jordan and Bahrain about a “Memorandum of Understanding pertaining to PEACE.” He also said his phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “went very well. ” and Netanyahu. in his first official statement on a potential end to the war. said Sunday that any agreement must eliminate nuclear threats posed by Iran. In a post on social media. Netanyahu wrote that “That means dismantling Iran’s nuclear enrichment sites and removing its enriched nuclear material from its territory.”.
An Israeli official, writing on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly, said Netanyahu also emphasized that Israel will “maintain freedom of action against threats in all areas, including in Lebanon.”
Even so. the most basic questions remained unresolved: what happens to the Strait of Hormuz. and who controls access once any agreement begins. There was no official confirmation from Iran, and the semi-official Fars news agency suggested wide disagreements persisted. Some centered on the Strait of Hormuz itself, the shipping waterway largely controlled by Iran.
Within the past 24 hours, at least 33 ships—including oil tankers—have passed through the Strait of Hormuz with Iran’s permission, according to Fars, citing Iran’s IRGC Navy, on Sunday. As of Saturday, Fars also said about 240 ships were waiting for Iran’s permission to pass through the strait.
Fars reported early Sunday that the agreement would provide for Iran to continue to manage the waterway, while calling Trump’s claim that Iran would no longer control access “inconsistent with reality.”
Trump, meanwhile, framed the strait as a central element of the deal. He said the agreement would involve Iran reopening the Strait Hormuz. and he warned the blockade would stay in place until an agreement is reached. certified. and signed. That message came as the blockade’s ripple effects have been felt in the U.S. with Americans facing high fuel prices as millions travel for the Memorial Day holiday this weekend.
Iran’s public stance has not matched Trump’s framing. Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baqaei told semi-official Iranian state media on Saturday that the Strait had nothing to do with the U.S. saying Tehran was engaging with Oman. which lies across the waterway. to decide what happens there. Tasnim reported that the Strait of Hormuz would “not return to its pre-war status” under an agreement.
The nuclear timeline is another point where the language from each side appears to miss the other’s red lines. Trump wants Iran to renounce nuclear ambitions. but Iran has said it wants a permanent end to the war before negotiations on nuclear weapons. Iran also wants sanctions relief from the U.S. and other countries and reparations from the war. It is expected that after any deal. there will be a period of one to two months of negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program.
Israel has made its opposition clear in past negotiations to arrangements that provide concessions to Iran. In this emerging round, that concern has sharpened. A person familiar with the matter who was not authorized to speak publicly told NPR that Israel is “very unhappy with the emerging deal” and views it as “an economic deal that doesn’t address Israel’s security concerns.” The person said Israel is “angry” at Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff. whom Israel says is “pushing a deal at any cost.”.
On Sunday. a senior Israeli official. also writing on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly. told reporters that the emerging agreement is “bad” because it would signal to Iranians that they possess a weapon no less effective than a nuclear one. and that is “the Strait of Hormuz.” The official said that while Trump believes the agreement includes progress linked to Iran dismantling its nuclear program. it was not clear what would happen after the initial phase.
Even within Trump’s own party, skepticism surfaced. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas said on X the president should stick to his “red lines,” calling it a “disastrous mistake” if an agreement resulted in Iran being able to develop nuclear weapons and have control over the Strait of Hormuz.
Still, U.S. officials projected momentum even as they acknowledged gaps. On Sunday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke to reporters while on a trip to New Delhi, saying it was possible the world would get some “good news” in the coming hours, but adding there was “still work to do.”
The deal language is also arriving after repeated waves of earlier optimism. Since originally saying the war launched by the U.S. and Israel on February 28th would be over in a matter of days. Trump has repeatedly announced the conflict was nearing an end amid a fragile ceasefire—only for talks to fall through.
This time, Pakistani mediators and Iranian officials have leaned into the possibility of progress. Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said on X: “The achievements of these negotiations offer grounds for optimism that a positive and durable outcome is within reach.” And a spokesperson for Iran’s Foreign Ministry said earlier on Saturday that the U.S. and Iran were in the “final stage” of a memorandum of understanding and that the positions of the two sides were becoming closer.
But for now, the picture is still incomplete. Trump insists the blockade will only end once any agreement is reached, certified, and signed. Iran argues the strait is not tied to the U.S. and points to Oman. Israeli leaders are pressing for nuclear dismantlement and warning that the Strait could hand Iran leverage that looks. to them. like a weapon. And with ships moving—at least 33 in the last 24 hours—every unresolved detail feels newly urgent for what comes next.
United States politics Trump Iran Strait of Hormuz negotiations Israel Netanyahu nuclear program Marco Rubio Ted Cruz Steve Witkoff blockade