Trump Negotiates Iran Peace Deal Amid Escalating Military Strikes
Donald Trump is negotiating a framework to end a three-month war with Iran, though U.S. forces continue conducting defensive strikes in southern Iran.
President Donald Trump is negotiating a peace agreement to end a three-month war with Iran that began with U.S. and Israeli bombardments on February 28. The proposed framework involves a 60-day ceasefire extension, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and the disposal of Iran's highly enriched uranium in exchange for the lifting of a U.S. naval blockade and the release of billions in frozen Iranian assets. Trump has insisted that any agreement must be a "Great Deal" and has demanded that regional allies sign the Abraham Accords as a condition for peace.
Despite the diplomatic push led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and mediators from Pakistan and Qatar, military tensions have spiked. Between May 25 and May 28, U.S. Central Command conducted multiple "self-defense strikes" against Iranian missile sites and mine-laying boats in the Hormozgan province and near Bandar Abbas. Iran condemned these actions as gross ceasefire violations, responding by downing U.S. drones and launching attacks against the UAE, Kuwait, and Bahrain.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed concern over the draft deal, particularly conditions requiring a cessation of hostilities in Lebanon where Israel continues operations against Hezbollah. Global markets have reacted with extreme volatility, with oil prices fluctuating based on contradictory signals regarding the deal's imminence. While Trump claims negotiations are proceeding nicely, he has cautioned representatives not to rush the process, stating that the naval blockade will remain until a formal agreement is signed and certified.
