President Donald Trump convened a high-level meeting in the White House Situation Room on Friday to finalize a determination regarding a potential agreement to extend a ceasefire with Iran. The proposed deal, reportedly a memorandum of understanding, aims to extend the ceasefire for 60 days and initiate discussions on Iran’s nuclear program, pending approval from both leaders. Trump has stipulated that Iran must commit to never possessing nuclear weapons, ensure unrestricted shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, and destroy any naval mines in the waterway.
The meeting followed days of escalating rhetoric and counter-accusations between the US and Iran regarding ceasefire violations. US officials had previously indicated that a framework deal was close, contingent on Trump’s sign-off. Trump himself had repeatedly suggested progress in negotiations since the ceasefire began on April 8, though substantive results remained elusive.
Context of the Negotiations
The current diplomatic push stems from a fragile ceasefire that went into effect on April 8, following a period of heightened military tension. The US and Israel initiated strikes against Iran on February 28, which Iran retaliated against with attacks on Israel and US-allied Gulf states. These actions led to the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil transit route, causing oil prices to surge.
The US has long demanded that Iran cease producing highly enriched uranium and dismantle its existing stockpile, which it argues could be used to develop nuclear weapons. Iran consistently maintains that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes and denies any pursuit of nuclear arms.
Conflicting Accounts Emerge
Following the meeting, President Trump posted on Truth Social, stating his readiness to lift the US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and allow ships passage. He also insisted on Iran’s agreement to allow the US to remove and destroy its enriched uranium, emphasizing that no money would change hands until further notice. He characterized other agreed-upon items as being of
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