According to Mr. Trump's statement on May 29 (US time), he convened a meeting in the White House security room to make a "final decision" on the proposal to extend the ceasefire established from early April by another 60 days. This period is expected to create conditions for negotiators to seek a long-term solution to end the war.
A White House official said the meeting in the Situation Room lasted about 2 hours, but did not confirm whether the US President had made a final decision or not. The official emphasized that Mr. Trump only accepted an agreement that met the limits set by Washington, and affirmed that Iran is not allowed to possess nuclear weapons.
A senior source from Iran told Reuters that the agreement is very close to completion, although it has not yet been officially ratified.
In his latest statement, Mr. Trump emphasized that Iran must stop controlling the Strait of Hormuz and must give up the ability to manufacture nuclear weapons. He also requested that this strategic shipping route be immediately opened to unrestricted transportation in both directions.
However, Iran has not shown agreement with the above conditions. Fars news agency quoted sources as saying that Mr. Trump's statement is an effort to create an image of a "building victory". An Iranian source said that the current draft agreement does not include nuclear-related issues.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei affirmed that the management of the Hormuz Strait must be decided by Iran and Oman. Meanwhile, Fars said that this sea route will be reopened under Tehran's conditions after the US lifts the blockade on Iranian ships.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that the removal of the blockade, if implemented, will take place step by step. Fars also reported that the two sides agreed on the release of 12 billion USD of Iran's frozen assets. However, Mr. Trump declared that no money would be transferred "until further notice".
Pressure on the White House is increasing as energy prices rise due to the impact of the war that began on February 28. The conflict has killed thousands of people, mainly in Iran and Lebanon, and has significantly affected the global economy as energy supplies are disrupted by restrictions on traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.
In a post on Truth Social, Mr. Trump said that the minefields in the strait will be cleared and stranded ships may soon return. He also expressed his expectation that the situation will soon improve.
International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi told the Financial Times that Kazakhstan has signaled its readiness to receive Iran's high-enriched uranium stockpile if an agreement is approved.
For its part, Iran continues to demand the lifting of sanctions, the withdrawal of US forces from the region and the cessation of Israeli military operations in Lebanon as part of any future peace agreement.
