Peace hopes soar as US, Iran cite progress

(FILES) US President Donald Trump speaks during a Mother's Day luncheon in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, DC, on May 8, 2026. US President Donald Trump said on May 23 that Iran and the US had "largely negotiated" a deal that included opening the Strait of Hormuz, but the draft was "subject to finalization." (Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP)

(FILES) US President Donald Trump speaks during a Mother’s Day luncheon in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, DC, on May 8, 2026. US President Donald Trump said on May 23 that Iran and the US had “largely negotiated” a deal that included opening the Strait of Hormuz, but the draft was “subject to finalization.” (Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP)

  • Trump says Hormuz reopening ‘largely negotiated’
  • US president in ‘very good call’ with Gulf leaders

 

US Donald Trump claimed an agreement to permanently end the war in Iran and reopen the Strait of Hormuz had “largely been negotiated” and “would be announced shortly”. In a post to his Truth Social account yesterday afternoon, Trump said he had concluded a “very good call” with leaders of Gulf countries and other US allies in the Middle East.

 

“Final aspects and details of the deal are currently being discussed, and will be announced shortly,” Trump wrote. “In addition to many other elements of the agreement, the Strait of Hormuz will be opened.” The president said he just fi nished “a very good call” with leaders in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkiye, Egypt, Jordan and Bahrain.

 

Gulf Times

 

The possible deal is “subject to fi nalisation between the United States of America, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the various other Countries, as listed”, Trump added. Trump’s comments came after mediators in high-stakes talks in Tehran. Iran’s ambassador to Pakistan, Reza Amiri Moghadam, says he discussed the “achievements” of US-negotiations with offi cials upon his return to Tehran.

 

“With conservative optimism, we can hope that – if the other side is adequately committed – a positive stride is taking shape which is the result of the positions of the Islamic Republic of Iran based on dignity, the steadfastness of the courageous armed forces, and the resistance of the brave Iranian nation, as well as the initiative and dedicated endeavours of the Pakistani mediator,” said Moghadam.

 

The Iranian ambassador also thanked Pakistan for its role in the negotiations. Earlier, Iran and Pakistan submitted a revised proposal to the US to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, two Pakistani sources familiar with the negotiations told Reuters yesterday.

 

A US response to the proposal is expected by today, the sources said. An interim deal to end the Iran war is in its fi nal phase and is “fairly comprehensive”, one Pakistani offi cial involved in the negotiations said. “It is never over till it is done,” the offi cial said.

 

But Iran, the US and mediator Pakistan all said yesterday that progress had been made in talks on ending almost three months of war. Iran said it was focused on fi – nalising a memorandum of understanding, or MoU, after its top offi cials met Field Marshal Asim Munir, the army chief of Pakistan.

 

The Pakistani army said the negotiations had resulted in “encouraging” progress towards a fi – nal understanding. Two Pakistani sources involved in negotiations said the deal being negotiated is “fairly comprehensive to terminate the war.”

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