Donald Trump said a proposed agreement involving Iran and regional powers would include reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping lane that has been effectively closed since the conflict began on February 28. The strait normally carries about one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas, making any change to its status highly significant for global energy markets and international trade.
On Monday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said negotiations were still ongoing and described the talks as “a work in progress.” Speaking in Delhi, he said the White House had expected possible news the previous night, but no final announcement had emerged. Trump later told negotiators not to rush into a deal, signaling that although he had earlier suggested an agreement was close, final terms were still unsettled.
Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman, Esmail Baqai, confirmed that agreement had been reached on a large portion of the issues under discussion, but he cautioned that this did not mean a signing was imminent. His remarks suggested that while progress had been made, substantial gaps remained before any formal accord could be completed. The Iranian response echoed Trump’s own insistence that final details were still being worked out.
Over the weekend, Trump said he had spoken with the leaders of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and other countries about what he described as a memorandum of understanding concerning peace. He said an agreement had been largely negotiated, though it remained subject to finalization among the United States, Iran and other countries named in the discussions. Trump added that final aspects of the deal were still being discussed and would be announced shortly.
Trump also said he had a separate call on Saturday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, describing the conversation as going very well. In additional remarks on Monday, Trump said that in his talks with Gulf leaders and other regional figures, including the presidents of Turkey and Egypt, he urged support for the Abraham Accords. The accords are intended to normalize relations between Israel and Arab states and were a major foreign policy initiative during Trump’s previous term.
The developments point to a broader diplomatic effort involving the United States, Iran, Israel and several Arab governments, with the Strait of Hormuz emerging as one of the most sensitive elements. Any agreement affecting the passage of oil and gas through the waterway would have major implications for energy security, regional stability and shipping routes. But despite signs of movement, both U.S. and Iranian officials indicated that a final deal had not yet been reached.
