Iran reverses course, agrees in principle to reopen Strait of Hormuz

President Donald Trump said on Sunday he had told U.S. negotiators “not to rush into a deal” with Iran, a day after saying a memorandum of understanding to reopen the Strait of Hormuz was largely negotiated. A senior Trump administration official told CBS News that Iran had agreed in principle to a package that would include reopening the waterway and disposing of highly enriched uranium. Trump said on Truth Social that the U.S. naval blockade would remain in force until any agreement was “reached, certified, and signed.” Iranian-linked media, meanwhile, said Tehran was still objecting to parts of the proposal and had not signed anything. ### What exactly did U.S. officials say Iran accepted? CBS News reported on May 24 that a senior Trump administration official said Iran had agreed “in principle” to a deal and that there was a “broad commitment on principles.” The same official said the package would include disposal of highly enriched uranium, while sources told CBS the proposal also covered reopening the Strait of Hormuz, unfreezing some Iranian assets held abroad and continuing negotiations. (yahoo.com) CNBC reported that Trump described the talks as proceeding in an “orderly and constructive manner” and said time was on Washington’s side. The outlet said the deal under discussion would reopen Hormuz, end hostilities, unfreeze certain Iranian assets and provide for further talks on Tehran’s nuclear program. ### Why is Trump now saying not to rush? Trump wrote on Truth Social on May 24 that “both sides must take their time and get it right” and that there could be “no mistakes,” according to CNBC and Reuters. (cbsnews.com) That marked a more cautious public line than the one he took on May 23, when he said an agreement had been “largely negotiated” and would be announced shortly. (cnbc.com) Reuters reported that Trump also said the U.S. blockade on Iranian ships in the Strait of Hormuz would “remain in full force and effect” until a final agreement was completed. The Reuters report said administration officials were playing down expectations of an imminent breakthrough after hopes had risen a day earlier. ### What are the sticking points holding this up? (cnbc.com) Reuters reported that the two sides remained divided on Iran’s nuclear ambitions, the war in Lebanon involving Hezbollah, Tehran’s sanctions demands and the release of tens of billions of dollars in frozen Iranian oil revenues. Tasnim, a news agency linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, said Washington was still obstructing parts of a potential deal, including Tehran’s demand for the release of frozen funds. (yahoo.com) CNBC reported on May 23 that Iran’s Fars news agency described Trump’s account of a Hormuz deal as “incomplete and inconsistent with reality.” The same report said Iran wanted to defer nuclear talks until after a formal cessation in hostilities. ### What has Iran said publicly about control of the strait? Fars said on May 24 that “even in the event of a possible agreement, the Strait of Hormuz will still be under Iranian management,” according to CBS News. (yahoo.com) CNBC separately reported that Fars said the latest exchanged text still kept the strait under Iran’s management, even as U.S. officials described the talks as a reopening arrangement. (cnbc.com) The White House had earlier said on April 8 that Iran had agreed to a ceasefire and reopening of the strait as broader negotiations continued, but Sunday’s reporting showed that implementation details and final sign-off were still unresolved. ### Who else is weighing in as the talks continue? (cbsnews.com) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on May 24 that he had spoken with Trump the night before about the memorandum on Hormuz and upcoming negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program, CNBC reported. Netanyahu said any final agreement must include dismantling Iran’s enrichment sites and removing enriched material from Iranian territory. (whitehouse.gov) Senator Lindsey Graham said on X that Trump should “stick to your guns” in the negotiations, CBS reported, and urged that Saudi Arabia and other states join the Abraham Accords as part of the diplomacy. ### What happens next, and what should readers watch for? Trump said on May 24 that the blockade would stay in place until a deal was finalized, certified and signed. (cnbc.com) CBS reported that both Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio said further details would be announced shortly, while CNBC reported that Iran’s foreign ministry had described a memorandum of understanding as a first phase before broader talks within 30 to 60 days. (cbsnews.com) (yahoo.com)