Trump tempers expectations of a Middle East deal with Iran

President Donald Trump has tempered expectations for a swift Middle East deal with Iran, advising his negotiators to avoid rushing the process. This comes even as both Tehran and Washington had previously indicated signs of progress toward an agreement to end the regional conflict.

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I have informed my representatives not to rush into a deal in that time is on our side.

A ceasefire has been observed since April 8, with mediators actively pursuing a negotiated settlement. However, tensions persist, marked by Iran's controls on Gulf shipping and the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports. The broader conflict erupted on February 28 following attacks by the United States and Israel on Iran, which led to retaliatory missile and drone strikes across the region. Iran's ally, Hezbollah, also engaged Israel following U.S.-Israeli strikes that killed Iran's supreme leader.

Trump stated on social media Sunday, "I have informed my representatives not to rush into a deal in that time is on our side." He added that the blockade would remain in effect until an agreement is finalized. Earlier, he had suggested the deal was "largely negotiated, subject to finalisation." However, Iran's Tasnim news agency reported that key clauses, including the issue of frozen Iranian assets, remain unresolved.

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The Blockade will remain in full force and effect until an agreement is reached, certified and signed.

A senior U.S. official, speaking to Axios, indicated that the White House does not anticipate an agreement on Sunday and believes it could take several more days for Tehran to approve the terms. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also commented, suggesting that while the proposed agreement has regional support, a comprehensive nuclear deal cannot be achieved quickly. He noted that seven or eight regional countries endorse the current approach.

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Right now, we have seven or eight countries in the region that are endorsing this approach, and we’re prepared to move forward on this approach.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that he and Trump agreed that any final agreement must completely eliminate the nuclear threat from Iran. Trump reportedly reiterated his long-standing demand for Iran to dismantle its nuclear program.

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any final agreement with Iran must eliminate the nuclear threat entirely.