According to The Wall Street Journal and other outlets, Trump told reporters at a White House event on Tuesday local time that Iran “cannot have a nuclear weapon and will not,” adding that Iran had agreed on that point “along with many other things.” He said the two sides had “very good talks over the last 24 hours” and that “there’s a very good chance” of an agreement.
CNN and Axios reported the U.S. and Iran are discussing a one-page MOU aimed at ending the war. The reports said it would include a temporary halt to Iran’s nuclear enrichment, U.S. sanctions relief, and a gradual lifting of Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the U.S. maritime blockade of Iran.
In an interview with PBS, Trump said a deal would include removing Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium to the United States and shutting down Iran’s underground nuclear facilities.
Trump also raised the possibility of a deal before his planned China visit on May 14-15. Asked by PBS whether it could be concluded before he leaves, he replied, “Possible.” Axios, citing officials, reported the White House hopes the talks will be finished before Trump’s China trip ends on May 15.
Fox News anchor Bret Baier said Trump told him in a previous call that he expected about a week to finalize the process. Baier said Trump expressed “cautious optimism.”
Even as he highlighted progress, Trump warned of renewed bombing if Iran does not agree. In a post on Truth Social, he wrote that if Iran does not consent, “the bombing will start,” and that it would be “at a much higher level and intensity than before.”
U.S. keeps maritime blockade on Iran
The United States has kept up pressure by maintaining its maritime blockade of Iran despite the reported diplomatic progress. U.S. Central Command said it “enforced the blockade” against the tanker Hasna as it traveled through international waters toward an Iranian port in the Gulf of Oman at about 9 a.m. Eastern time Tuesday.
Central Command said the Hasna ignored repeated warnings, prompting U.S. forces to fire a 20mm machine gun and disable its rudder. It said the ship is no longer sailing to Iran and that the U.S. blockade on vessels seeking to enter or leave Iranian ports “remains fully in effect.”
The United States began the maritime blockade at 10 a.m. on April 13, aiming to block ship movements through Iranian ports in what it described as a countermeasure to Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The U.S. has said the blockade, intended to increase economic pressure, will remain until an agreement is finalized. Trump has repeatedly said the blockade will not be lifted until a signed deal to end the war is in place.
Iran, meanwhile, has officially introduced new maritime rules requiring all ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz to obtain prior transit permission starting May 5, leaving unresolved friction over reopening the waterway.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.