US President Donald Trump said on May 29 that he is meeting in the Situation Room to make a 'final decision' on a deal with Iran, which could extend a ceasefire and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
In his latest post on the Truth Social platform, Trump laid out several conditions for Tehran to accept: never possessing nuclear weapons or atomic bombs; the Strait of Hormuz being open in both directions without tolls; removing any remaining sea mines in the strait; and the US excavating and destroying the enriched uranium Iran is hiding.
'Ships stuck in the strait due to our wonderful and unprecedented naval blockade (will be lifted) can begin the process of 'going home!'' Trump wrote. 'No money will be exchanged until further notice. Other, much less important issues, have been agreed upon.'
Deep mistrust, however, still exists between the two parties. Iran's lead negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, earlier that day said Tehran will evaluate any deal based on actions rather than promises, as talks continue. 'No action will be taken before the other side acts,' he posted on social media without elaborating.
Al Jazeera correspondent Patty Culhane from the White House noted that in the past, the Trump administration has hinted that a deal was reached, only for it to turn out otherwise. 'If this really is a deal, then it's the entire list of US demands with no concessions from Iran,' she explained.
Uncertainty about the details of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has increased over the past week, amid lingering mutual suspicion as the two sides seek to end a three-month conflict. On May 28, White House sources told Al Jazeera that the US and Iran had reached a tentative agreement to extend the ceasefire by 60 days for formal talks, but Trump had not yet signed off.
Iran's state news agency Fars, citing sources, reported on May 29 that a deal with the US is in its final stages of approval, though no final decision has been made. The sources stressed that no provisions in the MOU relate to destroying Iran's nuclear materials and said arrangements to reopen the Strait of Hormuz may include vessel monitoring and inspections.
