Trump and Iran Negotiate Peace Deal to Reopen Strait of Hormuz

The United States and Iran are negotiating a 14-point memorandum of understanding to end a conflict that began on February 28, 2026, with joint U.S.-Israeli strikes. The war, which included the assassination of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and the subsequent closure of the Strait of Hormuz, caused the largest energy supply disruption in history and drove U.S. gasoline prices to over $4.50 per gallon.

Donald Trump has proposed a framework involving a 60-day ceasefire, the lifting of U.S. naval blockades on Iranian ports, and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz without tolls. In exchange, the U.S. seeks a pledge that Iran will not pursue nuclear weapons and the disposal of its highly enriched uranium stockpile. While Trump claims a deal is largely negotiated, Iranian officials, including spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei, have tempered expectations, noting that nuclear issues may be deferred to a later negotiation window.

Mediation has been led primarily by Pakistan, with Field Marshal Asim Munir conducting high-level talks in Tehran and Islamabad. Despite diplomatic progress, tensions remain high; the U.S. and Iran exchanged missile and drone strikes in the Gulf of Oman and Strait of Hormuz throughout May 2026. The U.S. Navy disabled several Iranian tankers to enforce its blockade, while Iran launched attacks against U.S. warships and the United Arab Emirates. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed concern over the deal, arguing that it must fully eliminate Iran's nuclear threat and maintain Israel's freedom of action in Lebanon.