Trump says 'no rush' on Iran deal

President Donald Trump said on May 24 that he had told U.S. negotiators “not to rush” into a deal with Iran, tempering expectations of an immediate breakthrough after he said a day earlier that an agreement had been largely negotiated. Trump said on Truth Social that talks were proceeding in an “orderly and constructive manner” and that “both sides must take their time and get it right.” Reuters reported that Trump also said the U.S. blockade on Iran would remain until any agreement was formally signed. The remarks came after Trump had said on May 23 that a deal between the United States, Iran and other Middle Eastern countries was “largely negotiated,” with final details still under discussion. Politico reported that Trump said the agreement was subject to finalization and would include reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a central issue after months of disruption to shipping and energy markets. Al Jazeera, citing U.S. officials, reported on May 24 that an agreement had been reached “in principle,” but had not been signed and still required final sign-off from Trump and Iran’s Supreme Leader. (msn.com) ### What exactly did Trump say about the pace of the talks? Trump said on May 24 that he had instructed his representatives “not to rush” and described the negotiations as more “professional and productive” than the 2015 nuclear deal negotiated under former President Barack Obama. In a separate post cited by Gulf News and Al Jazeera, Trump said any accord he made with Iran would be “good and proper” and added that critics “don’t know deal details.” (politico.com) Reuters reported that Trump said there was “no rush” for an Iran deal and that the U.S. blockade would stay in place while negotiations continued. That position suggested Washington was trying to preserve leverage even as administration officials publicly described progress in the talks. (newarab.com) ### What is reportedly in the emerging agreement? U.S. officials told reporters, according to Al Jazeera, that the draft understanding would reopen the Strait of Hormuz and lead to an arrangement for Iran to dispose of its stockpile of enriched uranium, though the method remained unresolved. Politico reported that Trump had previewed a reopening of the strait as a priority for the White House and Gulf allies. (msn.com) The New Arab reported that unconfirmed accounts had pointed to a possible 60-day extension of the ceasefire, during which maritime traffic would resume and wider negotiations on Tehran’s nuclear program would continue. That detail remains unverified in the reporting now available, and U.S. officials cited by Al Jazeera said the agreement was not expected to be signed on May 24. (aljazeera.com) ### Who is objecting to the deal? Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Trump on May 24 that Israel would continue to act as it saw fit across the region regardless of any peace deal, according to The New Arab. Gulf News separately reported Netanyahu saying that he and Trump agreed any final agreement must eliminate Iran’s nuclear threat entirely. (newarab.com) Republican critics in Washington also pushed back. Politico reported that Senator Lindsey Graham said a deal seen as allowing Iran to survive with future leverage over the Strait of Hormuz would strengthen Iran-backed groups, while Senator Roger Wicker criticized a rumored 60-day ceasefire. Trump answered those attacks by saying opponents had not seen the terms. (newarab.com) ### What still has to happen before there is a deal? A senior U.S. official said, according to Al Jazeera, that Iran’s system was not expected to move fast enough for a signing on May 24 and that negotiations over the nuclear provisions would take more time. The same report said Washington believed Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei had endorsed the broad outline, though there was no immediate public confirmation from Tehran. (politico.com) Pakistan said a new round of U.S.-Iran peace talks would take place “very soon,” The New Arab reported. As of May 25, the public reporting showed no signed agreement, no announced timetable for final text, and no indication that the U.S. blockade would be lifted before formal approval by both sides. (newarab.com) (aljazeera.com)