Speaking at the White House on Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump said a “great settlement” had been reached and suggested a formal signing could take place as soon as this weekend in Europe. "The strait will officially open as soon as we sign, which could be soon, very soon, maybe over the weekend in Europe," Trump said, adding that Vice President JD Vance could sign on behalf of the United St...
Speaking at the White House on Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump said a “great settlement” had been reached and suggested a formal signing could take place as soon as this weekend in Europe. "The strait will officially open as soon as we sign, which could be soon, very soon, maybe over the weekend in Europe," Trump said, adding that Vice President JD Vance could sign on behalf of the United States. When asked by a reporter whether Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei had approved the deal, Trump said, "I understand the answer is yes." However, Iran swiftly tempered expectations. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said no final decision had been taken on any agreement with Washington. He added that large portions of the negotiating text had been completed but said no final conclusion had been reached. Baghaei said the matter remained under review by Iranian decision-making bodies and accused Washington of repeatedly changing its positions during negotiations. Trump described the proposed accord as "a very strong memorandum of understanding," saying it was "a little conceptual, but it's something that's going to get done." Iran has pushed for sanctions relief, access to frozen funds, and recognition of its control over the Strait of Hormuz, while Trump said the proposed agreement hinges on a commitment that Tehran will never possess nuclear weapons. "The big thing is there will be no nuclear weapons in Iran—not developed and not purchased," he said. Since mid-March, Trump has repeatedly touted progress toward a deal with Iran, but continued military exchanges this week have underscored the challenges facing negotiations and strained an already fragile ceasefire reached in April. Dear readers: We recognize that politics often intersects with the financial news of the day, so we invite you to click here to join the separate political discussion. More on markets May CPI Report: War Impact Remains Contained, Allowing The Fed To Stay On Hold AAII Sentiment...