Trump says deal with Iran 'largely negotiated' and would include opening Strait of Hormuz

Tehran also signals progress on talks but says the key issue of nuclear weapons is not part of an initial framework it is working on. Trump says deal with Iran 'largely negotiated' and would include opening Strait of Hormuz Copyright current_year BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. Copyright current_year BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. US President Donald Trump sits on a leather chair and speaks travelling with the US Secretary of State US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that an agreement with Iran had been "largely negotiated" and details would be announced soon. The deal would include the opening of the Strait of Hormuz, he said, without giving further details. Both sides, however, have been cautious, and Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson earlier said the key issue of nuclear weapons would not be part of initial proposals. On social media, Trump said he had a "very good call" with the leaders of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and others about a "Memorandum of Understanding pertaining to PEACE". "An agreement has been largely negotiated, subject to finalization between the United States of America, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the various other Countries, as listed," Trump said. "Final aspects and details of the deal are currently being discussed, and will be announced shortly," he said. He also said he had a call on Saturday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which "went very well". The president has not given any further details on the draft, but has insisted any agreement would "absolutely" prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. "I will only sign a deal where we get everything we want," he said. "We're going to have a deal, or we're going have a situation where no country will ever be hit as hard as they're about to be hit." Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei told state television on Saturday that the US and Iranian positions had been converging in the last week, but warned that did not mean agreements would be reached on key issues and accused the Americans of "contradictory statements". "Our plan has been to first draft a memorandum of understanding, or an agreement, in the form of a framework, consisting of 14 points," he said, according to Reuters news agency. Baqaei said they were in the process of finalising the memorandum, so further talks could be held within 30 to 60 days "and ultimately a final agreement can be reached". Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio was cautiously optimistic. Speaking on a trip to India, he told the BBC there could be news within the next couple of days, but couldn't be certain. Rubio also emphasised the US's position that Iran must not be allowed a nuclear weapon, and spoke of reopening the Strait of Hormuz without tolls from Iran. The country also needed to turn over its highly enriched uranium, he said. Ship in open sea in the Strait of Hormuz on a misty day Why and how is US blockading Iranian ports in Strait of Hormuz? Marco Rubio (left) and Narendra Modi (right) smile at each other as they sit beside their respective countries' flags. Rubio meets Modi during India visit with energy high on agenda Hung Cao in a suit seated in front of a microphone. He is gesturing with his hands. US navy chief says $14bn arms sale to Taiwan paused due to Iran war Trump is expected to hold a phone call with leaders from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Egypt, Turkey and Pakistan on Saturday, Reuters reported, citing an Arab official. French President Emmanuel Macron spoke to Trump and the leaders of the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Jordan on Saturday about the negotiations with Iran, AFP news agency reported. France is pushing for a negotiated solution, with the number one priority being a complete reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a source told AFP. The new sense of momentum comes after the mood appeared to have soured in Washington, with anonymous officials briefing US media on Friday that the administration was preparing for a fresh round of military strikes, although no final decision had been made. On Friday, the president posted on Truth Social that he would not attend his son Donald Jr's wedding this weekend so he could remain in Washington DC "during this important period of time". Last week, Trump had said the truce was on "massive life support" after rejecting Tehran's demands, labelling them "totally unacceptable". The temporary ceasefire between Iran and the US started in early April. Map titled “US blockade of Iran’s Gulf coast” showing Iran’s southern coastline along the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman highlighted in red to indicate a blockade. Iranian territorial waters are shaded, with a caption stating “US blockade will affect all ships travelling to or from Iran’s Gulf coast” Ports and major jetties are marked with purple dots, including Kharg Island and Bandar Abbas. Surrounding seas are labeled, including the Arabian Sea, and a distance scale, source credit, and BBC logo are visible. The US has blockaded Iranian ports since 13 April. On Saturday, US Central Command (Centcom) said it had redirected 100 vessels, disabled four, and allowed 26 humanitarian aid ships to pass since the blockade began. Centcom commander Admiral Brad Cooper said its forces had been "highly effective" in "allowing zero trade into and out of Iranian ports which has squeezed Iran economically". Meanwhile, Iran has claimed military control of an area around the Strait of Hormuz, and has said all transit through the strait "requires coordination with and authorisation from the Persian Gulf Strait Authority". The US and Gulf allies have repeatedly rejected Iranian attempts to assert control over the strait, and the US has told ships not to comply with Iran's rules. An image with BBC Verify branding of an Iranian speedboat Iran steps up claim to control Strait of Hormuz US President Donald Trump delivers remarks at an event in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House campus in Washington, DC, USA, 18 May 2026. Trump says he called off new Iran attack at request of Gulf states A petrol pump attendant fills fuel in a vehicle at a petrol station, on 16 May, 2026 in New Delhi, India. Oil price slumps as Trump says he called off Iran attacks A federal judge says the Maryland man who was wrongfully deported last year is being prosecuted for political reasons. Gabbard who has been largely out of public view during recent US operations says she is leaving due to her husband's illness. Eligibility for the fund appear broad, as Republicans and Democrats demand answers and guardrails The driver died aged 41 on Thursday after "overwhelming complications" from the illnesses. BBC's Brandon Livesay toured the Columbia Park Training Facility in Morris Township, New Jersey that will host the team in the coming weeks. The secretary of state wants to sell US energy to Delhi to make up for shortfalls caused by the Iran war. A new policy closes a loophole that has allowed people to apply for a green card, or permanent residency, while in the country. More than 30 people, including firefighters, were hurt in the incident, which was described as "a complex, fast-developing emergency situation".