Trump Pauses US Naval Mission as U.S. and Iran Close One-Page War Memo

The United States and Iran are closing in on a one-page memorandum to end the war in the Gulf, after President Donald Trump paused a three-day-old naval mission to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Reuters reported that Axios said the White House believed it was closing in on the memorandum, citing two US officials and two other sources briefed on the discussions. The reported framework would include Iran committing to a moratorium on nuclear enrichment, the US agreeing to lift its sanctions and release billions in frozen Iranian funds, and both sides lifting restrictions around transit through the Strait of Hormuz. Trump said the pause was meant to see whether “the Agreement can be finalized and signed,” while the blockade of Iranian ports would remain in full force and effect.

As Trump paused “Project Freedom,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the offensive military operation known as Operation Epic Fury has concluded and that the U.S. moved on to Project Freedom, which he described as defensive in nature. Reuters also quoted Rubio saying the US was working to get ships through the strait as a “favour to the world … because we’re the only ones that can,” while the BBC reported that oil prices dropped after the reports of a deal to end the Iran war. The BBC said Brent crude futures fell to below $102 a barrel after the reports, after being over $108 earlier in the day. In Iran, Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told Reuters that Tehran was holding out for “a fair and comprehensive agreement,” while the Straits Times reported he also stressed the importance of diplomacy among regional states to prevent escalation.

The reported memorandum would declare an end to the war in the region and start a 30-day period of negotiations on a detailed agreement to open the strait, limit Iran’s nuclear programme and lift US sanctions, with restrictions on shipping through the strait and the U.S. naval blockade of Iran gradually lifted during that period. Reuters said the US expected Iranian responses on several key points in the next 48 hours, and the BBC similarly said the US was believed to be awaiting response from Iran on several key points within the next 48 hours. The Guardian reported that Trump said he was pausing “Project Freedom” for “a short period” to give space for US efforts to finalise a settlement with Iran to end the war, while also stating the blockade of Iranian ports would remain in place. Meanwhile, the Straits Times said the strait has been effectively shut to all shipping apart from its own since the United States and Israel launched the war on Feb 28, and it described the blockade and attacks around the strait as part of the pressure shaping the negotiations.