President Donald Trump concluded a critical meeting regarding the Iran war without announcing a final decision. He had previously stated on Truth Social that he would make his “final determination” during the session.
Trump laid out non-negotiable demands, including Iran’s agreement to never possess nuclear weapons and the immediate, toll-free opening of the Strait of Hormuz to shipping. Iranian state media has countered these demands, claiming they contradict the existing agreement text. The situation remains tense, with recent military actions and new U.S. sanctions against Iran.
- President Donald Trump concluded a meeting in the White House Situation Room without declaring his final decision on pausing the three-month Iran war.
- Trump had previously stated he would make his "final determination" during this meeting.
- On Truth Social, Trump demanded that Iran "must agree" to forgo nuclear weapons and ensure the Strait of Hormuz is "immediately open" for unrestricted shipping.
- Iran's state news outlet Fars countered Trump's claims, stating they introduced issues contrary to the agreement's text.
President Donald Trump concluded a high-stakes meeting in the White House Situation Room on Friday without announcing his final decision regarding a potential deal to pause the ongoing three-month Iran war, an administration official informed CNBC.
Earlier in the day, Trump had declared on Truth Social that he would be making his "final determination" during the scheduled meeting. He outlined several critical demands for Iran as prerequisites for any approved deal.
It remains unclear whether Trump's stated conditions are already incorporated into the preliminary agreement being negotiated by U.S. and Iranian representatives to halt the conflict.
Trump's demands, posted Friday morning, insisted that Iran "must agree" to permanently abandon any pursuit of nuclear weapons. Additionally, he stipulated that the Strait of Hormuz must be "immediately open" to unrestricted shipping traffic, free from any tolls.
He also indicated that the U.S. naval blockade in the Gulf of Oman, imposed in retaliation, "will now be lifted," though the timing of this lifting contingent on meeting his demands was not specified.
Furthermore, Trump stated that enriched nuclear material buried at the sites of last year's attacks on Iran's nuclear facilities would be "unearthed" by the U.S. This action would be conducted "in close coordination and conjunction with the Islamic Republic of Iran, plus the International Atomic Energy Agency, and DESTROYED."
"No money will be exchanged, until further notice," Trump added. "Other items, of far less importance, have been agreed to."
"I will be meeting now, in the Situation Room, to make a final determination," he concluded.
The announcement of these demands led to a drop in oil prices following Trump's post.
Disputes Over Deal Text Emerge
The precise terms of the ongoing negotiations remain ambiguous. Following Trump's statement, Iran's state news outlet Fars pushed back, asserting that his demands introduced issues that "contradict the provisions of the agreement's text."
Citing "informed sources," Fars reported in a translated Telegram post that the draft agreement does not include a clause for a toll-free strait, contrary to Trump's assertion.
The outlet also claimed that the draft deal makes no mention of Iran dismantling or destroying its nuclear materials.
Fars further contended that a critical component of the agreement involves "the immediate payment of $12 billion of Iran's frozen assets," adding that Iran would reject further negotiations if this payment is not made.
The White House has not yet responded to CNBC's inquiries regarding Trump's statement and the Fars news agency's rebuttal.
However, a White House official had confirmed on Thursday an Axios report detailing a 60-day memorandum of understanding reached by U.S. and Iranian negotiating teams. This preliminary agreement reportedly aims to extend the current ceasefire and pave the way for nuclear talks.
The memorandum, according to Axios, would also lift restrictions on the Strait of Hormuz, obligate Iran to clear mines from the waterway within 30 days, and prompt the U.S. to lift its blockade accordingly.
Discussions on Iran's enriched uranium and its enrichment objectives are expected to be primary focuses during the 60-day period, as outlined in the Axios report. The draft also anticipates future negotiations concerning sanctions relief and the release of frozen Iranian funds.
Tensions Persist Over Strait of Hormuz
Trump's latest indication of progress toward a U.S.-Iran peace deal stands in contrast to recent escalations in economic and military confrontations between the two nations. Iranian officials and state media have also continued their anti-U.S. rhetoric.
The Pentagon reported on Thursday morning that Iran had fired a ballistic missile toward Kuwait and deployed attack drones in the vicinity of the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian media later reported late Thursday that the country's armed forces had conducted missile strikes against unspecified targets.
The U.S. Treasury Department announced new sanctions against Iran on Wednesday and Thursday, including measures targeting Tehran's recent actions to control transit through the vital strait.
Prior to Trump's Friday statement, Iranian officials posted defiant messages on X, highlighting their alliances with regional neighbors, including Oman, which has recently faced threats from Trump.
Reports indicate that Oman has been engaged in discussions with Iran regarding potential tolls for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil-shipping route that has been significantly impacted by Iranian threats since the war commenced.
During a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Trump stated that "Oman will behave just like everybody else, or we'll have to blow 'em up." The following day, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned Oman that the U.S. would "aggressively target" any entity involved in "facilitating tolls" for the strait.
A social media account attributed to Iran's parliamentary speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, posted a cryptic and aggressive message on X on Friday morning regarding the status of the talks. The translated post read:
"We seize concessions not through dialogue, but with missiles; in negotiations, we merely make them understand," Ghalibaf's account stated. "We have no trust in guarantees or words—only actions are the measure. No action will be taken before the other side acts. The winner of any agreement is the one who is better prepared for war from the day after."
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posted on X that he had spoken with his Omani counterpart and "expressed Iran's solidarity with Oman in face of any threat."
Read Trump's full post:
Iran must agree that they will never have a Nuclear Weapon or Bomb. The Hormuz Strait must be immediately open, no tolls, for unrestricted shipping traffic, in both directions. All water mines (bombs), if any, will be terminated (we have removed, through detonation, numerous such mines with our great underwater mine sweepers. Iran will complete the immediate removal and/or detonation of any mines that are left, which will not be many!). Ships caught in the Strait due to our amazing and unprecedented Naval Blockade, which will now be lifted, may start the process of "heading home!" Say HELLO to your wives, husbands, parents, and families from me, your favorite President! The enriched material, sometimes referred to as "Nuclear Dust," which is buried deep underground with virtually collapsed mountains, caused by our powerful B2 Bomber attack 11 months ago, sitting on top of it, will be unearthed by the United States (which, it is agreed, is the only Country, along with China, with the mechanical capability of doing so!), in close coordination and conjunction with the Islamic Republic of Iran, plus the International Atomic Energy Agency, and DESTROYED. No money will be exchanged, until further notice. Other items, of far less importance, have been agreed to. I will be meeting now, in the Situation Room, to make a final determination. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP
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