Washington: US President Donald Trump has indicated that Washington and Tehran are close to finalising a major peace framework, describing the proposed agreement as “largely negotiated” even as uncertainty remains over one of the deal’s most critical elements — the future control and reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
In a social media post, Trump said only the final details of the understanding were being worked out and suggested the agreement would restore shipping movement through the strategic waterway, which has remained heavily disrupted since the conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran intensified earlier this year.
The claim, however, was swiftly challenged by Iranian media. Reports from Tehran-based outlets stated that while negotiations were progressing, the proposal under discussion does not hand direct reopening authority to Washington and instead envisions Iran retaining operational oversight of the strait under a monitored framework.
The Strait of Hormuz has become one of the central flashpoints of the conflict, with its closure rattling global oil markets and raising fears of prolonged economic disruption. Nearly a fifth of the world’s oil supply normally passes through the narrow maritime corridor.
At the centre of the negotiations is also Iran’s controversial uranium stockpile. International reports suggest Tehran may be willing to surrender portions of its highly enriched uranium reserves under international supervision, though technical details would reportedly be settled in later rounds of dialogue.
The US administration has repeatedly framed its military campaign as an effort to halt Iran’s path toward nuclear weapons capability. Tehran has denied seeking nuclear arms, maintaining that its nuclear activities remain intended for civilian and energy-related purposes.
Diplomatic momentum appears to have accelerated following high-level meetings involving Pakistan’s military leadership and senior Iranian officials. Islamabad has emerged as a key intermediary in recent weeks, helping bridge differences between the two sides.
Pakistani officials have described progress as encouraging, with sources indicating the proposed settlement could unfold in phases. The first stage would formally halt hostilities, followed by restoring movement through Hormuz and opening a month-long window for broader negotiations on sanctions, regional security and nuclear oversight.
Regional powers including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, Egypt, Jordan and Turkey have also reportedly encouraged Washington to support the emerging framework in an effort to avoid another escalation.
Despite the optimism, Iranian officials have warned that several issues remain unresolved, particularly demands for sanctions relief and guarantees against renewed military action.
Tehran has also insisted that any lasting arrangement must address regional tensions beyond its own borders, including ongoing hostilities involving Hezbollah in Lebanon.
While Trump has projected confidence that a final announcement could come soon, officials on both sides acknowledge that the next few days will likely determine whether diplomacy succeeds — or whether the fragile progress collapses under unresolved mistrust.
