Here’s What We Know About Trump’s “Largely Negotiated” Iran Deal

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President Trump posted on Truth Social Saturday announcing a “largely negotiated” memorandum of understanding with Iran. (Source: Truthsocial.com @realDonaldTrump)President Donald Trump announced Saturday that a deal to end the war with Iran has been “largely negotiated,” signaling what could become one of the most consequential foreign policy developments of his presidency.As The Gateway Pundit recently reported, Trump said the final details of the agreement are still being discussed and will be announced shortly. The president described the emerging arrangement as a “Memorandum of Understanding pertaining to PEACE,” following calls with leaders from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, and Bahrain. Trump also said a separate call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu went “very well.”The central issue appears to be whether Iran will agree to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the critical shipping passage that has been at the center of global economic concern throughout the conflict. Reuters reported that the proposed framework would unfold in three stages: formally ending the war, resolving the Hormuz crisis and opening a 30-day window for a broader agreement.That broader agreement would likely focus on Iran’s nuclear program, the biggest sticking point between Washington and Tehran. Iran has insisted that nuclear issues are not part of the current negotiations, while Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei described the draft as a framework agreement meant first to end the war. He said additional details could be discussed over a “reasonable time span,” between 30 and 60 days, if the framework is reached.According to Al Mayadeen, a Lebanese pan-Arabist outlet based in Beirut, sources claimed the memorandum could grant a 30-day deadline to reach a nuclear agreement after the framework is signed. The outlet also reported that the memorandum could include the release of half of Iran’s frozen funds, amounting to $12 billion, along with measures to facilitate maritime navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. Those specific claims have not been confirmed by the Trump administration.Reuters reported that Secretary of State Marco Rubio reiterated Trump’s demands, saying Iran can never have a nuclear weapon, the straits must open without tolls, and Tehran must turn over its enriched uranium.The Strait of Hormuz issue is especially important because international law does not allow Iran to treat the passage as a private toll road or political weapon. Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, all ships and aircraft enjoy the right of transit passage through international straits, and that passage “shall not be impeded.” The convention also states that bordering states “shall not hamper transit passage” and that there shall be “no suspension of transit passage.”That means reopening the Strait of Hormuz cannot simply mean allowing limited shipping under Iranian control, selective permission, or unofficial tolls. A serious agreement would need to restore free, continuous, and unimpeded navigation for commercial and military vessels consistent with international law.For now, no official text of the deal has been published. Foreign reports have described possible terms, but the Trump administration has not confirmed the details. What is clear is that Trump is attempting to end the war while preserving the threat of overwhelming military force if Iran refuses to comply.The post Here’s What We Know About Trump’s “Largely Negotiated” Iran Deal appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.