President Donald Trump declared on Saturday that “an agreement has been largely negotiated” with Iran, claiming the deal would include the reopening of the strategic Strait of Hormuz. However, significant questions remain about the final terms as Iranian officials signal major gaps still exist.
Trump posted on Truth Social after separate calls with leaders from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Egypt, Turkey, Jordan, Bahrain, and Pakistan. He also spoke separately with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, describing the conversation as having gone “very well.”
‘I don’t make bad deals’
When asked by reporters about the economic toll the war has taken on American families, including rising inflation and gas prices above $4.50 per gallon, Trump dismissed the concern as a motivating factor.
“Not even a little bit,” Trump said earlier this month, adding, “The only thing that matters, when I’m talking about Iran, is they can’t have a nuclear weapon.”
Defending his negotiation stance, the president insisted: “I don’t make bad deals. We’re either going to make a good deal or we’re not going to make a deal at all. But if we don’t, it’s going to be very bad for them.”
Optimism vs. skepticism
While Trump claimed an announcement was imminent, he gave conflicting assessments. In one interview he said the chances of a deal were a “solid 50/50,” warning he would “blow them to kingdom come” if talks failed. On the same day, he told CBS the two sides were “getting a lot closer.”
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking in India, confirmed “some progress has been made.” Pakistan’s military also reported “encouraging progress” following a visit by army chief Asim Munir to Tehran.
However, Iran struck a more cautious tone. Foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said a Qatari delegation was holding talks in Iran, but noted that “major gaps still remain” while a 14-point framework was being finalized.
The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz
The most concrete element of the emerging deal appears to be the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, effectively closed since the war began in February. Trump confirmed the strait would be opened as part of the agreement, a key demand of global energy markets.
Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said Sunday that “meaningful progress” had been achieved, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated Trump on his “extraordinary efforts” to pursue peace.
Growing political pressure
Behind the scenes, Trump faces mounting pressure from Gulf allies and from within his own party. Republican senators have privately expressed concern that the emerging deal may be too favorable to Iran, with one senior GOP aide calling it “a disaster waiting to happen.”
Senator Lindsey Graham, a Trump ally, warned that any deal must include complete dismantlement of Iran’s nuclear program and full verification. “If it doesn’t, we’re just kicking the can down the road,” Graham said.
Humanitarian toll continues
Meanwhile, the humanitarian crisis in the region continues to worsen. According to UN reports, over 50,000 civilians have been killed since the conflict escalated in February. Relief agencies warn of impending famine in parts of Iran and Iraq as supply routes remain disrupted.
The World Food Programme has appealed for $2.5 billion in emergency aid, but funding has been slow due to donor fatigue and the ongoing global economic slowdown.
What happens next
Diplomatic sources suggest that a framework agreement could be announced within days, but final implementation may take weeks or months. Key sticking points include Iran’s uranium enrichment levels, its ballistic missile program, and sanctions relief.
For now, Trump’s claim that “I don’t make bad deals” remains untested. The world is watching to see whether the 45th — and now 47th — president can deliver a Middle East peace that has eluded his predecessors for decades.
