Trump yet to decide on Iran deal as demands called excessive by official

The Story

President Donald Trump has not made a decision on a deal that could extend the current ceasefire with Iran, with no announcement following a Situation Room meeting in which he said he would make a “final determination.” Iran has called U.S. demands “excessive,” while a senior Arab official involved in mediation said terms were agreed days ago but both sides are delaying finalization.

Key Facts

• Trump said Friday that Iran must agree to never have a nuclear weapon, that the Strait of Hormuz be reopened for unrestricted shipping, and that any mines are destroyed.
• The two-hour Situation Room meeting ended without a statement from the White House.
• U.S. officials said the White House is reviewing an agreement to start 60 days of discussions on Iran’s nuclear program, but neither side has signed off.
• Iran’s semi-official Mehr News quoted senior official Mohsen Rezaei saying Trump is “betraying diplomacy” and pursuing “excessive demands.”
• A senior Arab official told NBC News that American and Iranian negotiators agreed to terms in Doha three days ago, but both sides delayed finalizing.
• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Trump is “patient,” wants a “great deal,” and that the U.S. is ready to restart attacks if no deal is reached.
• Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said “a final understanding has not yet been reached” and nuclear issues are not being discussed in detail.
• Brent crude oil was trading at around $92 a barrel on Friday, down 1.8%, and has fallen 20% in May amid deal hopes.

Conflicting Reports

• U.S. and Arab officials indicated the deal is close to being finalized, but Iran said no final understanding has been reached. A senior Arab official claimed terms were agreed days ago, but both sides are delaying.

Still Unclear

• When or whether Trump will approve the deal.
• The exact contents of the agreement under review.
• Why both sides have delayed announcing a deal if terms were agreed in Doha.

Misconceptions

No widespread misconceptions addressed in the source article.

Key Figures

• President Donald Trump
• Secretary of State Marco Rubio (predicted “good news” nearly a week ago)
• Mohsen Rezaei (senior official and former IRGC commander, quoted by Mehr News)
• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
• Esmail Baghaei (Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson)
• Unnamed senior Arab official cited by NBC News

Sources: NBC News