Trump says Iran deal 'largely negotiated', dispute over strait reopening

A "largely negotiated" memorandum of understanding on an Iran peace deal would reopen the Strait of Hormuz, US President Donald Trump said on Saturday (May 23), although the Iranian Fars news agency disputed that claim.



Trump posted on social media that the emerging agreement would reopen the strait, the vital shipping passage whose closure upended global energy markets after the conflict started in February when the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran. He did not say what else would be included in an agreement.



"Final aspects and details of the Deal are currently being discussed, and will be announced shortly," Trump wrote on Truth Social.



But Fars reported early on Sunday that the agreement would allow Iran to manage the Strait of Hormuz and that Trump's assertion on the strait was "inconsistent with reality".



Iran had said on Saturday that it was working toward a memorandum of understanding on ending the war after its top officials met with Asim Munir, the army chief of Pakistan.



The Pakistani army said the negotiations had resulted in "encouraging" progress. Two Pakistani sources involved in the talks said the deal being negotiated is "fairly comprehensive to terminate the war".