Trump Tells US Negotiators Not To Rush Iran Deal As Strait Of Hormuz Reopening Looms

The United States is close to reaching a deal with Iran that would end the war, reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and see Iran give up its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, regional officials told the Associated Press on Sunday.

President Donald Trump said on social media Sunday that he had informed his representatives "not to rush into a deal" and said the negotiations were proceeding in an orderly and constructive manner.

Al-Yawm Al-Sabi'

The strait’s reopening would begin to ease a worldwide energy crisis sparked by the surprise U.S. and Israeli bombardment of Iran on Feb. 28, which led Tehran to essentially close the crucial waterway.

The U.S. has blockaded Iranian ports for over a month, and Trump said the blockade "will remain in full force and effect until an agreement is reached, certified, and signed."

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, on a visit to India, said that "significant progress, although not final progress, has been made" in negotiations, while Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian said on state TV that his country was ready to assure the world that it was not after a nuclear weapon.

In the U.S. debate over the emerging agreement, Senator Ted Cruz said it would be "a disastrous mistake," while Representative Mike Lawler said the administration has managed to "force the remnants of this regime into a negotiation, a real negotiation."

On Sunday, Trump also told negotiators "not to rush into a deal" in a Truth Social post, adding that "Both sides must take their time and get it right" and that there can be no mistakes.

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he and Trump remained united in their stance on preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, and a senior U.S. official cautioned that a deal had not been signed and would have to be approved by Trump and Iran’s supreme leader.

The Hill reported Netanyahu supports Trump on a memorandum of understanding but asserted that the final deal must also cover Iran’s nuclear program, saying "President Trump and I agreed that any final agreement with Iran must eliminate the nuclear danger."

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said there were "narrowing differences" between the Iranian and U.S. positions, while Iran was cautious after the United States and Israel attacked it twice in the last year while nuclear negotiations were ongoing.

Under the emerging agreement described by regional officials, the Strait of Hormuz would gradually reopen in parallel with the U.S. ending its blockade, and the U.S. would allow Iran to sell its oil through sanctions waivers.

“Trump tells US negotiators 'not to rush' into deal with Iran US President Donald Trump says he has instructed negotiators "not to rush into a deal" with Iran, after reports suggested an agreement was close”

BBC

Sanctions relief and the release of Iran’s frozen funds would be negotiated during a 60-day time frame, and one official with direct knowledge of the negotiations said how Iran would give up the uranium would be subject to further talks during that period.

The draft deal also includes an end to the war between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon, according to both officials.

The Hill reported that the proposal extends the ceasefire for 60 days and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, but makes no mention of what becomes of Iran’s nuclear program or its stockpile of highly enriched uranium.

In Israel, concerns persisted that the negotiations could turn into a settlement that does not address the roots of the conflict, with Euronews citing CNN and quoting an Israeli source saying "There is real concern that Trump will strike a bad deal".