Trump says Iran MoU largely negotiated; Hormuz reopen on the table

Saturday, May 23, 2026Developing

Politics Desk

What we know

President Donald Trump said Saturday that a memorandum of understanding with Iran to end the three-month war had been "largely negotiated," including language to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, after phone calls with leaders from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan and Bahrain, and a separate call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Trump said final aspects were still being discussed and would be announced shortly, describing the draft as a peace MoU that still must be finalized by the United States, Iran and other participating countries.

Pakistani mediators and regional officials described encouraging progress toward ending the war, reopening Hormuz and ending the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports, with a follow-on 30- to 60-day window for harder issues including Iran's nuclear program. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei cast the text as a framework MoU with narrowing differences but stressed that nuclear limits are not settled in the current draft and that Tehran's priority is ending the war on all fronts, including Lebanon. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking in New Delhi, said some progress had been made even as work continued.

What's confirmed

AP/CNN: Trump said Saturday an Iran MoU was "largely negotiated" and that Hormuz would be opened, subject to finalization (AP/CNN).
AP/Al Jazeera: Draft tracks discussed include ending the war, reopening Hormuz, ending the U.S. port blockade, and a 30–60 day follow-on talks window (AP/Al Jazeera).
Al Jazeera/Reuters: Baghaei described a 14-point framework MoU; Rubio cited progress from New Delhi; Pakistani sources said a revised Hormuz/war-end proposal was submitted (Al Jazeera/Reuters).
AP: Trump said his call with Netanyahu went "very well"; no signed deal announced Saturday (AP).

What's still developing

Whether Hormuz sovereignty, tolls and demining language can be bridged in writing.
How — and whether — Iran's highly enriched uranium and sanctions relief move into the 30–60 day window.
Whether Lebanon ceasefire language survives Israeli insistence on continued freedom of action against Hezbollah.

Sources

AP News — Trump says Iran deal and Hormuz reopen largely negotiated link
CNN — Trump says agreement with Iran largely negotiated; Hormuz to open link
Al Jazeera — Munir, Rubio cite progress; Tehran signals caution on MoU link
Reuters — Iran's top negotiator says Tehran will not compromise in U.S. talks link