Trump says Iran peace deal near finalisation
Washington, May 24
US President Donald Trump has said that Washington and Tehran were close to finalising a broad peace agreement after a series of calls with leaders from the Middle East and South Asia, including Pakistan's Army Chief General Asim Munir and leaders of Gulf nations.
In a post on Truth Social on Saturday, Trump said an agreement had been "largely negotiated" between the United States, Iran and several regional countries, with only final details left to be completed.
"I am in the Oval Office at the White House where we just had a very good call with President Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan of The United Arab Emirates, Qatar's Emir Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani, and Qatari Minister Ali al-Thawadi, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir Ahmed Shah of Pakistan, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi of Egypt, King Abdullah II of Jordan, and King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain, concerning the Islamic Republic of Iran, and all things related to a Memorandum of Understanding pertaining to PEACE," the US President wrote.
The statement marked one of the most expansive diplomatic claims made by Trump in recent months regarding Iran and regional security.
"An Agreement has been largely negotiated, subject to finalisation between the United States of America, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the various other Countries, as listed," he said.
Trump also added that he separately spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
"Separately, I had a call with Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu of Israel, which, likewise, went very well," he wrote.
Trump said negotiations were now focused on the final elements of the understanding.
"Final aspects and details of the Deal are currently being discussed, and will be announced shortly," he added.
One of the most significant parts of Trump's statement related to the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway through which a major share of the world's oil shipments pass.
"In addition to many other elements of the Agreement, the Strait of Hormuz will be opened," Trump wrote.
The remarks are likely to draw close attention in India, which depends heavily on crude oil imports from the Gulf region and has long monitored instability around the Strait of Hormuz with concern.
Any reduction in tensions involving Iran could ease fears over energy prices, shipping disruptions, and supply chain risks.
Trump did not disclose details of the proposed memorandum of understanding or explain the role each country would play in the arrangement.
The White House also did not immediately release further details.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Interesting that Pakistan's Army Chief is mentioned in the same breath as Gulf leaders. India needs to be very careful - any deal that involves General Munir could have implications for our region. Hope our MEA is tracking this closely. 🇮🇳
Peace in the Middle East is always welcome, but I'm skeptical. Iran and the US have been at loggerheads for decades. One phone call and a social media post don't make a treaty. Also, where is India in this conversation? We have major stakes in the Gulf. 😒
As someone who works in the shipping industry, if the Strait of Hormuz really opens up without drama, that's a game changer. Insurance premiums for tankers have been sky-high due to the tensions. Hope this is not just political posturing before US elections. 🙏
I'm not convinced. Trump likes to announce 'deals' that aren't really deals. Remember the 'deal of the century' for Israel-Palestine? That went nowhere. And involving Pakistan's army chief in an Iran deal seems odd - what exactly is their role here? 🧐
If this reduces oil prices, it's good for our economy and for common people struggling with inflation. But I hope India is not left out of the loop. We have strategic interests in Chabahar port and strong ties with both Iran and the Gulf. We need a seat at that table! ✊
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.