Trump Says Iran Deal Is “Largely Negotiated” as Tehran Cites Deep Gaps

President Trump said Saturday that a memorandum of understanding to end the war with Iran has been “largely negotiated” and is subject to finalization, adding on Truth Social that the final details “will be announced shortly,” according to Al Jazeera and Newsweek. Iran’s foreign ministry said the same day that “deep and significant” disagreements remain, Al Jazeera reported.

Mr. Trump said he had spoken with leaders of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Bahrain and Israel, Newsweek reported. Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, concluded a visit to Iran on Saturday in which he met Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, President Masoud Pezeshkian and parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, and the Pakistani military called the trip “highly productive,” Al Jazeera reported. A U.S. official told Newsweek both sides had made “significant progress” but that last-minute disputes could derail the talks.

Newsweek, citing unnamed sources, reported the framework would include a declaration ending the war, an end to the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports, two months of negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Al Jazeera said the main sticking points are the future of the nuclear program, Iran’s influence over the strait, the future U.S. military presence in the region and access to frozen Iranian funds. Iranian spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Iran was drafting a 14-point memorandum and that its details would be discussed “within a reasonable period of 30 to 60 days,” according to Al Jazeera. Newsweek quoted him saying nuclear issues are not part of the current talks and that Iran first wants the war ended on all fronts, including Lebanon, and sanctions lifted.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Saturday there had been “some progress,” and repeated that Iran must never have a nuclear weapon, must hand over its highly enriched uranium and must keep the strait open, Newsweek reported. Tehran’s position is firmer: Mr. Ghalibaf told Mr. Munir that Iran would not compromise on its national rights, Al Jazeera reported, and Iran’s U.N. mission accused Washington of “excessive demands” pushing the talks toward collapse. Mr. Trump put the chances of a deal at “a solid 50/50,” according to Al Jazeera, which also reported that he said he had been moments away from resuming attacks but put them on hold at the request of Gulf countries.

Some Republicans are uneasy. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said he is “a skeptic of the idea that Iran cannot be denied the ability to terrorize the Strait,” and Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., called a rumored 60-day ceasefire a “disaster” and said everything accomplished by Operation Epic Fury “would be for naught,” Newsweek reported. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said any agreement would facilitate free passage through the strait, though he did not explain how, Al Jazeera reported.

The war began Feb. 28 with U.S. and Israeli strikes. Fighting has largely paused since April 8, but the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed and the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports continues, Al Jazeera reported. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Navy said 25 ships passed through the strait in the previous day, according to Al Jazeera. Anadolu Agency reported that U.S. Central Command said the blockade, which began April 13, has redirected 100 commercial ships and disabled four others, with 26 humanitarian aid ships allowed through.