Trump delays Iran deal decision, sides cite excessive demands
President Donald Trump has not yet made a final decision on a potential agreement to extend the current ceasefire with Iran, and no announcement followed a Situation Room meeting on Friday that he said would produce a “final determination.” U.S. and Arab officials have indicated for days that a deal is close, but neither side has formally approved it. Iran’s senior official Mohsen Rezaei accused Trump of “betraying diplomacy” and pursuing “excessive demands,” as reported by Iran’s semiofficial Mehr News. A senior Arab mediator told NBC News that American and Iranian negotiators had agreed to terms three days ago in Doha, but both sides are now delaying finalization. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the U.S. is ready to restart attacks on Iran if no deal can be reached. Oil prices have fallen amid hopes for a deal, with Brent crude trading 1.8 percent lower at around $92 per barrel. The war and closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which carried 20 percent of the world’s oil, have driven energy prices higher over the past three months.
What’s reported
President Trump has not announced a decision after a Situation Room meeting on Friday, despite saying he would make a “final determination.”
Trump stated Iran must never have a nuclear weapon, that the Strait of Hormuz be reopened for unrestricted shipping, and that mines be destroyed.
Iran’s senior official Mohsen Rezaei accused Trump of “betraying diplomacy” and making “excessive demands.”
A senior Arab official involved in mediation told NBC News that terms were agreed in Doha three days ago, but both sides have delayed finalizing and announcing the deal.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Trump is “patient” and wants a “great deal,” but the U.S. is ready to resume attacks on Iran if no deal is reached.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said no final understanding has been reached and the focus is on ending the war, not nuclear details.
Oil prices fell, with Brent crude at around $92 per barrel, down nearly 20 percent in May.
The Strait of Hormuz, through which 20 percent of the world’s oil passed before the blockade, remains closed.
Conflicting accounts
The article reports conflicting accounts between U.S. and Iranian officials. U.S. officials said the White House was reviewing an agreement for 60 days of talks, while Iran painted a “vastly different picture” and called U.S. demands excessive. Additionally, a senior Arab official said terms were already agreed in Doha, but no public announcement has been made.
Open questions
It is unclear why Trump has delayed a final decision after the Situation Room meeting, and what specific changes have been made to the draft text reported by Iran’s Tasnim news agency.
Key figures
President Donald Trump
Secretary of State Marco Rubio
Mohsen Rezaei (senior Iranian official, former IRGC commander)
Senior Arab official (not named in the article)
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
Esmail Baghaei (Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson)
Sources: NBC News
