Trump Says Iran Deal “Largely Negotiated” — Tehran Says Not Quite

WASHINGTON / TEHRAN — Three months into a war between the United States, Israel, and Iran, both sides appear closer to stopping than they have been at any point since February. Whether “closer” is close enough remains the central question no one can answer by Sunday evening.
President Trump said Saturday that an agreement to end the conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz had been “largely negotiated,” with Pakistan serving as the primary mediator between Washington and Tehran. He described the odds of a deal at “a solid 50/50” and told reporters he would decide by Sunday whether to resume military strikes. He has not resumed them as of Sunday night.
Iranian officials pushed back immediately. Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei told state media that nuclear issues are not part of current negotiations — contradicting Trump’s framing — and that the Strait of Hormuz would remain under Iranian control regardless of what any agreement says. Iranian state news agency Fars described Trump’s characterization as “inconsistent with reality.”
What both sides do appear to agree on: the shooting has slowed, Pakistan is at the table, and the outlines of a framework exist. Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said Sunday that recent negotiations offer “grounds for optimism that a positive and durable outcome is within reach.” Within the past 24 hours, at least 33 ships including oil tankers passed through the Strait with Iranian permission, according to the IRGC Navy.
The sticking point is nuclear. Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu, in his first direct statement on the negotiations, said Sunday that he and Trump agreed any deal must eliminate nuclear threats posed by Iran. Iran says nuclear issues are off the table in current talks. That gap is not a small one.
Republican Senator Thomas Massie, one of the few in his party to break with Trump on the Iran conflict, came out in favor of a short-term deal. “My constituents are hurting. Gas is almost $5 a gallon, diesel is almost $6 a gallon,” Massie said Sunday on Meet the Press. Other Republican senators have warned that any deal could signal weakness.
The war began February 28 with U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iran. Trump said at the time it would be over in days. It is now approaching ninety days. Gas prices, fertilizer costs, and freight rates tied to Strait of Hormuz traffic have all felt it.
Pakistan’s role as mediator is unusual. Army Chief Asim Munir — whom Trump has publicly called his “favorite field marshal” — has been the primary conduit between the two sides. Pakistan has historical ties to both countries and hosts the largest Shia Muslim population outside Iran, which gives Islamabad a particular interest in a resolution.
A senior regional official told PBS Saturday that “last-minute disputes” could still derail the effort. That qualifier has appeared in nearly every dispatch from the negotiating channel for three weeks running.
The deal is close. It has been close before.