Washington, United States. U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that he had told his representatives not to rush into any deal with Iran, tempering hopes of an imminent breakthrough in the three-month-old war. He said negotiations were continuing but added that both sides must take their time.
Talks continue
Trump wrote on Truth Social that the U.S. blockade on Iranian ships in the Strait of Hormuz would “remain in full force and effect until an agreement is reached, certified, and signed”. He said the relationship with Iran had become more professional and productive, but stressed: “There can be no mistakes!”
A day earlier, Trump said Washington and Iran had “largely negotiated” a memorandum of understanding on a peace deal that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Before the conflict, the waterway carried one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments.
Outstanding issues
It was not clear whether Trump was referring on Sunday to the interim memorandum of understanding under discussion or to a final peace settlement, which would likely take much longer.
The two sides remain at odds over several issues, including Iran’s nuclear ambitions, its demand for the lifting of sanctions, the release of tens of billions of dollars of Iranian oil revenues frozen in foreign banks, and Israel’s war in Lebanon with the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militia.
Reports of differences
Various media in the United States and Iran had reported that the memorandum setting out a framework for ending months of fighting would, if concluded, initially lift a U.S. blockade on Iranian vessels and reopen the waterway. Iran has shut the route with threats to attack shipping.
However, Iran’s Tasnim news agency said differences remained over one or two clauses. Tasnim cited a source as saying there would be no final understanding if the U.S. continued to create obstacles.
Further complication
In another possible stumbling block, a military adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei said Tehran had the legal right to manage the Strait of Hormuz. It was not clear whether that meant continuing to decide which ships can pass through the waterway.