US President Donald Trump said he had asked US representatives not to rush to sign any agreements with Iran, in the context of Washington lowering expectations of a breakthrough to be achieved for the conflict.
Mr. Trump emphasized on the social network Truth Social on May 24 that the US blockade of Iranian ships in the Strait of Hormuz will "continue to be fully maintained and effective until an agreement is reached, confirmed and signed".
A day earlier, Donald Trump said that an agreement "has basically been negotiated", which includes reopening this strategic shipping route.
On May 25, a spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry said that a framework had been reached, but an agreement with the US could not be reached immediately. The spokesman added that Iran is negotiating to end the conflict and is currently not discussing nuclear issues.
It is known that the parties still have many disagreements on key issues such as Iran's nuclear ambitions, Israel's attack on Lebanon, the lifting of sanctions against Tehran as well as the disbursement of billions of USD of frozen foreign assets of Iran.
As the Iranian conflict enters its 87th day on Monday (May 25), here are the notable developments:
Situation in Iran
Sea transport data shows that a ship carrying liquefied natural gas (LNG) has left the Strait of Hormuz and is heading towards Pakistan on May 25. Meanwhile, an Iraqi super crude oil tanker to China left the Gulf on May 23 after being stuck for nearly 3 months.
Diplomatic efforts
A senior US official told reporters that no agreement would be signed on May 24, saying Iran's reaction was too slow.
However, an unnamed US official also revealed the latest contents being negotiated. Accordingly, Iran has agreed "in principle" to reopen the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for the US lifting the naval blockade and handling Tehran's high-enriched uranium.
The US understands that Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has accepted the common framework of the agreement. However, Iran has not confirmed this information and has not clarified the specific meaning of the concept of "consent in principle".
US reaction
Either we will have a good deal, or we will have to deal with it differently. We want a better deal," US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters in New Delhi, India, on May 24.
The President will not sign a bad deal, that's for sure," he added, adding that a "quite certain" proposal is being put on the negotiating table.
Developments in Lebanon
Two houses in the town of Arzoun, Tyre region, southern Lebanon, were destroyed in an Israeli airstrike, according to the Lebanese National News Agency. Rescue teams were present to evacuate the injured. Israel continues its attacks despite a ceasefire order.
The Israeli military said that 1 soldier was killed in fighting in southern Lebanon and another person was seriously injured and was taken to the hospital for emergency treatment.
Israeli drones continue to fly over the capital Beirut for the second consecutive day.
