Iran and U.S. report peace deal 'largely negotiated'
President Trump said a peace deal with Iran reopening the Strait of Hormuz is 'largely negotiated' and will be announced shortly.
Objective Facts
President Trump announced that a peace deal with Iran reopening the Strait of Hormuz is 'largely negotiated' and will be announced shortly. Trump said he held calls from the Oval Office with the leaders of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan and Bahrain, as well as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, all focused on finalizing terms with Iran. The agreement includes a memorandum of understanding as a first phase, before broader talks within 30 to 60 days. However, Iran's Fars news agency, affiliated with the IRGC, dismissed Trump's claim as 'incomplete and inconsistent with reality,' saying the Strait would remain under Tehran's control. Trump suggested the deal was close over the weekend, but then said the U.S. is in no rush to reach an agreement. Regional media emphasize Iran's management control over the Strait and question Trump's characterizations of agreement progress.
Left-Leaning Perspective
While the White House is accustomed to pushback from the left, in this instance the loudest critics of the emerging deal were on the right. Democratic Senator Cory Booker expressed concern over reports about the sequencing of a deal, starting with the opening of the strait and progressing to later nuclear talks, stating that Trump said he went into this to deal with Iran's nuclear program and criticizing 'This does not deal with that,' adding 'Donald Trump is being played as a fool that he is for getting us into this in the first place.' Trump is facing heat from Democrats who criticized him for starting the war, faulted his waging of it, and are now rebuking him over its possible endgame, with attacks showing their party senses majority opposition to the war might deliver a midterm victory. Democratic criticism focuses on the deal's failure to immediately address nuclear constraints, with left-leaning analysts arguing the sequencing allows Iran unacceptable leverage.
Right-Leaning Perspective
Trump's announcement of a framework peace deal was met Sunday with skepticism from key Republicans, with Senator Roger Wicker of Mississippi warning that the agreement 'would be a disaster.' Senator Ted Cruz said if the result is an Iranian regime receiving billions of dollars, able to enrich uranium and develop nuclear weapons with effective control of the Strait of Hormuz, then that outcome would be a disastrous mistake. The president effectively told his ostensible allies on the right, 'Trust me,' and many of them effectively responded, 'No.' Right-wing critics argue that the deal validates Iran's wartime leverage and surrenders critical bargaining chips without securing nuclear concessions upfront. However, GOP Senator Rand Paul defended the White House's approach, writing 'War virtually always ends with negotiations' and asking critics to 'give President Trump the space to find an American First solution.'
Deep Dive
The U.S. and Israel launched large-scale strikes on Iran on February 28, 2026, marking the start of the 2026 Iran war, including the assassination of Khamenei and key negotiator Ali Larijani. A temporary two-week ceasefire was announced on April 7, 2026. Trump's May 23 announcement that a deal was "largely negotiated" represents a dramatic rhetorical pivot after weeks of mixed signals and threatened military resumption. The core dispute centers on sequencing: Trump wants nuclear constraints locked in immediately; Iran wants war-end and asset unfreezing first, then nuclear talks over 60 days. The Strait of Hormuz control represents the central asymmetry—Trump claims it will be "opened" and accessible; Iran insists it remains under Iranian management and sovereignty. Critics across the political spectrum note that Trump's weakness continues to get in the way of his progress, with his latest claims to political strength looking like a mirage after he told his conservative allies 'Trust me' and many responded 'No.' Both left-leaning and right-wing opponents question whether the deal validates Iran's leverage from the war without securing sufficient constraints. However, these arguments have merit, but it is also not clear how more fighting on top of the weeks-long U.S.-Israeli onslaught on Iran would have a greater chance of success in breaking Tehran's resistance. The economic stakes matter: the national average gas price for regular gas is $4.56 per gallon, the highest in four years. What to watch next: Whether the announcement triggers Trump to issue a formal ultimatum or grant further negotiating time; whether Iran's hardliners (particularly the IRGC) accept any final framework; whether mediators Pakistan and Qatar can bridge the Strait control and sequencing gaps; and whether the Abraham Accords expansion Trump newly demanded—requiring Saudi Arabia and other countries to recognize Israel—derails already fragile talks by introducing a separate high-stakes demand.
Regional Perspective
Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said the achievements of the negotiations offer grounds for optimism that a positive and durable outcome is within reach. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated Trump on holding what he called a very useful and productive call with regional leaders, noting discussions provided an opportunity to exchange views on the current regional situation and move ongoing peace efforts forward. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's office said his country stands ready to provide every kind of support during the implementation phase of a potential agreement with Iran. However, the Tasnim news agency reported that the Strait of Hormuz would not return to its pre-war status, and Iran's Fars news agency insists the Strait will remain under Iranian management, calling Trump's assertion that Iran would no longer control access 'inconsistent with reality.' Gulf states including Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE have urged Trump to suspend the military assault, fearing Iranian retaliation against the region and further damage to global energy markets. Tasnim news agency, close to Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps, accused the U.S. of 'obstructionism' over the release of frozen Iranian funds in exchange for lifting restrictions over transit through the Strait of Hormuz.