Trump suggests US-Iran peace agreement could be finalized by this weekend

WASHINGTON⁤ — On Thursday, President Donald Trump⁤ revealed that a peace agreement ⁢between⁤ the United States and Iran could‌ be signed as⁢ early as this weekend, potentially reopening shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz.

If finalized, this⁣ agreement would mark a significant diplomatic milestone in ending the three-month ⁤conflict, which has resulted in thousands of casualties and a sharp increase in global ‌energy prices.

Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency reported that Tehran is likely to approve the agreement,⁤ although‌ a formal response⁣ is still awaited.

“We have⁤ just reached​ a significant resolution ‍of the conflict with Iran,” Trump informed⁣ reporters at the White House.

“The ⁤Strait‍ will officially reopen as soon as we sign the ⁤agreement, which could happen ⁤very soon, possibly over​ the weekend in Europe,” ​he added.⁢ Vice President​ JD Vance ‌could be‍ the one to sign ​on behalf of the United States, according to Trump.

When questioned about Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei’s approval of the deal, Trump ​responded: “As far as I understand, the‍ answer is ‘yes.'”

Trump’s announcement followed ‌his decision to ‍cancel planned military strikes‌ on‍ Iran, citing progress in negotiations.

Since mid-March, Trump⁢ has ⁣consistently stated that a deal​ with Iran to‌ end the conflict is imminent. The two sides ⁤have exchanged strikes throughout​ the week, testing a ceasefire announced ​in April.

“It’s a robust memorandum of understanding‍ that is somewhat conceptual,” Trump explained to reporters.

Trump has repeatedly emphasized that any ​peace agreement must ensure that Iran ‌cannot develop a⁣ nuclear weapon.

Iran’s‌ demands include the lifting​ of international‌ sanctions, the release​ of billions of dollars in⁢ frozen assets, and‍ recognition of its control⁤ over the‍ Strait of Hormuz.

“We have an​ agreement that ensures Iran will never possess a nuclear weapon, which was the primary objective of our efforts. ‌So, it’s a⁣ significant achievement,” ⁣he stated on Thursday.

Trump claims‌ regional ‌leaders support the ⁤deal

Earlier on Thursday, ⁢Iranian and⁣ Western sources reported ​that efforts to reach‍ an interim agreement to end ⁤hostilities ‌had intensified.

Three Iranian sources stated that⁣ a political understanding had been reached, but some issues ‍still needed detailed discussion.

Critics within‍ Trump’s Republican⁤ Party have argued that any agreement​ must prevent Tehran from developing a nuclear weapon. Opposition‌ from Iran‌ hawks contributed to ‌the ‌failure of a previous attempt to secure ​a deal to open the strait.

Analysts suggest that Trump is wary of any ⁢deal being⁣ compared ​to⁣ the 2015 agreement, which he criticized as overly⁢ lenient. Trump⁢ withdrew the U.S. from that agreement ⁤in 2018⁢ during his first term in office.

Trump announced⁤ on social media that the agreement ‌had been approved by “the highest⁣ level” of Iranian leadership, as well as other ⁣countries in‍ the region, including Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the‌ United Arab Emirates.

Trump and Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke on Thursday.

Israel is “not ‍a party to the ⁤memorandum ​of understanding,”⁢ and Netanyahu expressed his appreciation⁤ for Trump’s commitment to⁢ securing a final deal that includes ‍resolving the‍ issue of enriched nuclear material, according to a statement from Netanyahu’s ⁣office.

Trump also⁣ informed reporters that he would soon speak‍ to Turkey’s President Tayyip Erdogan.

News of the potential ‍agreement led to a rise in⁤ U.S. stocks and ⁣a ‍drop in ​oil prices.

The conflict has resulted ‌in⁢ thousands of casualties, primarily in⁤ Iran and Lebanon, and has driven up global‍ oil prices since the U.S. and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran on​ Feb. 28.