Iran–US Peace Deal "Largely Negotiated" — Strait of Hormuz Set to Reopen as Rubio Hints Deal Within Hours
Trump posts on Truth Social that final details are being announced "shortly." Secretary Rubio in New Delhi confirms "significant progress." Iran disputes key terms — but both sides signal a deal is close.
- Trump says Iran peace deal is "largely negotiated" and Strait of Hormuz will be opened.
- Rubio: "Significant progress" made — hints announcement possible within hours.
- Deal expected in two phases — Hormuz first, nuclear talks second.
- Iran disputes Trump's framing — insists it retains management of the Strait.
- Pakistan, Qatar, Oman credited as key mediators in brokering the deal.
WASHINGTON / NEW DELHI — In a rapid diplomatic development that could end nearly three months of war, President Donald Trump declared Saturday that a peace agreement between the United States and Iran has been "largely negotiated," with the reopening of the vital Strait of Hormuz at the center of the emerging deal.
Trump posted on Truth Social that "final aspects and details" of the deal would be announced "shortly," after speaking by phone with leaders from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Bahrain, and Israel. It marks the most concrete signal yet that the fragile two-month ceasefire — which began in late March — could be formalized into a lasting agreement.
"Some progress has been made — significant progress, although not final progress. I do think perhaps there is the possibility that in the next few hours the world will get some good news."
— Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking in New Delhi · May 24, 2026
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, currently on an official visit to India, amplified the optimism but stopped short of declaring a done deal. Speaking to reporters in New Delhi, Rubio reiterated the US's core demands: Iran must never obtain a nuclear weapon, the Strait of Hormuz must be opened without tolls, and Iran must hand over its stockpile of highly enriched uranium.
The Two-Phase Deal Explained
According to a US official who spoke to multiple outlets, the emerging agreement is structured in two distinct phases designed to create immediate relief while preserving leverage for harder negotiations ahead.
- 60-day ceasefire extension
- Strait of Hormuz reopened — shipping returns to pre-war levels
- Iran allowed to sell oil freely
- Partial sanctions relief — "relief for performance"
- Iran's nuclear enrichment suspended
- Highly enriched uranium stockpile removed
- Formal end-of-war declaration
- Permanent sanctions lifted incrementally
Iran Pushes Back on Key Terms
Even as optimism grew in Washington, Iran moved swiftly to dispute Trump's characterization of the deal. Iran's semi-official Fars News Agency — closely aligned with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps — said that Trump's claim the Hormuz would be "opened" was "inconsistent with reality."
According to Fars, the agreement provides for Iran to continue to manage the waterway, with the number of passing ships returned to pre-war levels — but stopping well short of "free passage" under pre-war conditions. Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman described the draft as a "framework agreement" with key issues still unresolved.
A senior Israeli official said the emerging agreement is "bad" because it signals to Iran that the Strait of Hormuz is a weapon "no less effective than a nuclear one." Israel was kept informed of negotiations but was not a direct party to the talks.
Pakistan's Role as Peacemaker
Pakistan — whose Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir met Iranian President Pezeshkian in Tehran on May 23 — played a pivotal behind-the-scenes role in moving talks forward. Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said the negotiations offer "grounds for optimism that a positive and durable outcome is within reach."
Oman and Qatar also acted as conduits, with Iran's Tasnim News Agency reporting that under the potential agreement, Strait of Hormuz passage would be jointly managed as an "Iranian-Omani issue" negotiated with Muscat. Iran also insisted that any deal must include the release of at least part of its frozen foreign currency reserves as a first-phase condition.
