TRUMP CLAIMS IRAN DEAL IS "LARGELY NEGOTIATED" — TEHRAN CALLS IT A FRAMEWORK STILL MONTHS FROM COMPLETION

President Trump said Saturday that a peace agreement with Iran has been "largely negotiated," including provisions relating to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Writing on Truth Social, Trump said "final aspects and details of the Deal are currently being discussed and will be announced shortly," describing the document as a "Memorandum of Understanding pertaining to PEACE." He said the progress followed calls with leaders from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, and Bahrain — and separately, Israel.

Iran's Foreign Ministry offered a materially different characterisation of the same document. Spokesperson Esmail Baghaei described it as a "framework agreement" — not a completed deal — and said details would be discussed over "a reasonable time span of 30 to 60 days" before any final agreement could be reached. The Strait of Hormuz was among the topics Baghaei described as still under discussion, not resolved.

Several key sticking points remain unresolved. These include the fate of Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium, the conditions under which Iran's domestic enrichment program may continue, and the specific terms governing the reopening of the Strait. Trump had previously demanded Iran collect no tolls on passage through the waterway; Iran has disputed that position. Secretary of State Marco Rubio underscored the distance between the two sides on Saturday, reiterating that the United States would only sign a deal "if we get everything we want."

The divergence in accounts comes against a backdrop of repeated reversals on both sides. A conditional ceasefire was declared on April 8; fighting has continued regardless. An Israeli strike on an ambulance centre in Lebanon on Friday killed four paramedics. Trump had threatened a military strike on Iran on or around May 20, was reportedly persuaded to postpone, and then said publicly he had been "an hour away" from giving the order. Iran's Revolutionary Guard this week threatened to extend the conflict "beyond the region" if strikes resumed.

The status of the Strait of Hormuz itself reflects the broader lack of clarity. The United States declared a blockade of the waterway, which has redirected approximately 100 commercial ships. Iran's state media simultaneously reported that 35 ships transited the Strait in the past 24 hours "in coordination with Iranian naval forces." The two sides do not agree on who controls the passage.

Sources: CNN, CBS News, CNBC, PBS NewsHour, The National. May 23, 2026.