On March 30, during his first official visit to India, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that negotiations with Iran have achieved significant progress, though not yet final. Rubio told reporters in New Delhi that the world could receive good news in the coming hours.
Rubio's remarks came just hours after President Trump posted on Truth Social that 'the Strait of Hormuz will be opened.' Trump indicated that a memorandum of understanding to end hostilities has been nearly completed. Since the US and Israel launched a military campaign against Iran on February 28, Iran has largely blocked the Strait of Hormuz—a vital global oil shipping route.
According to Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency, which is close to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a potential memorandum stipulates that the number of vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz will return to pre-war levels within 30 days. The strait will not be fully restored to its original state, but traffic will be resumed to permitted levels.
On the Iranian side, Tasnim reported that the US naval blockade of Iranian ports must be completely lifted within 30 days, and some of Iran's frozen funds must be released in the early phase of the agreement. The potential deal also includes an end to the war on all fronts, including in Lebanon.
Regarding the implementation roadmap, measures related to the Strait of Hormuz will take effect in the first 30 days, while negotiations on Iran's nuclear program will extend for an additional 60 days after the agreement is signed. Al Jazeera correspondent Ali Hashem, citing Iranian sources, said that management of the Strait of Hormuz will be handled by Iran and Oman, with mediation by Muscat.
Al Jazeera's Resul Serdar Atas in Tehran reported that the negotiation round remains 'fragile,' especially regarding the Strait of Hormuz issue. Once this stage is overcome, a second round will focus on nuclear negotiations, which have persisted for decades.
From Washington DC, Al Jazeera correspondent Kimberly Halkett noted that President Trump wants to show he has achieved his goals through this deal, especially amid an unpopular war and declining approval ratings.
