Trump Pumps Brakes on Iran Deal Despite “Constructive” Talks
Yahoo Finance Singapore reported Sunday that President Donald Trump has walked back expectations of an imminent agreement with Iran, saying Washington has no desire to “rush into a deal” even as both sides describe negotiations as productive.
Trump Taps the Brakes on an Announced Agreement
The reversal came just hours after Trump suggested on Saturday evening that a framework deal reopening the Strait of Hormuz would be announced shortly. By Sunday morning, a Truth Social post from the president struck a notably more cautious tone. Trump wrote that the current blockade would remain “in full force and effect” until any agreement is formally certified and signed by both parties. He added that both sides must take their time to avoid mistakes.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking from India, suggested further developments could emerge on Sunday. Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei had earlier said the two countries were in the “final stage” of drafting a memorandum of understanding. A senior Iranian source indicated the document would need approval from Iran’s Supreme National Security Council before reaching Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei.
Background: A Conflict That Has Reshaped the Gulf
The war, which began in late February after US and Israeli airstrikes killed longtime Iranian leader Ali Khamenei, has triggered sustained Iranian retaliation across the Gulf region. Energy infrastructure, military installations, and civilian sites in the UAE, Qatar, and neighboring countries have all been struck. The Strait of Hormuz closure has sent global oil prices sharply higher, with Brent crude futures closing Friday just above $100 per barrel and WTI ending the week above $96.
Pakistan and a coalition of Arab nations have pushed for a six-week ceasefire extension. Trump met over the weekend with leaders from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Turkey, Jordan, and Pakistan, as well as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, to discuss the proposed framework.
Key Red Lines Remain Unresolved
The core sticking points have not moved. The US insists any lasting agreement must include the removal of Iran’s enriched uranium stockpiles and an end to further enrichment. Tehran has flatly refused to dismantle its enrichment program, and Khamenei publicly stated this week that no enriched uranium will be permitted to leave Iranian territory.
Iran’s side has also demanded that Washington lift financial sanctions and unfreeze Iranian assets as preconditions. Baghaei suggested nuclear issues could be deferred for 30 to 60 days once active fighting stops, a framing the US has not accepted. The gap between both parties’ stated prerequisites remains wide, leaving markets and regional governments in a prolonged holding pattern.
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