U.S President Donald Trump took to his Truth Social platform on Sunday to report that while negotiations were proceeding with Iran, he had told his delegation not to “rush into a deal”.
“The negotiations are proceeding in an orderly and constructive manner, and I have informed my representatives not to rush into a deal in that time is on our side,” Trump wrote “The Blockade will remain in full force and effect until an agreement is reached, certified, and signed.”
The United States had imposed a blockade on Iranian ports since April 13 as a response to restrictions placed by Tehran on the economically critical maritime passage, the Strait of Hormuz.
The President added, “Both sides must take their time and get it right. Our relationship with Iran is becoming a much more professional and productive one. They must understand, however, that they cannot develop or procure a Nuclear Weapon or Bomb.”
Spokesman for the Iran Foreign Ministry Esmaeil Baqaei had said on Saturday on state television that both nations were inching towards “a memorandum of understanding, a kind of framework agreement composed of 14 clauses”.
As certain provisions of the deal began to leak, several Republican lawmakers raised concerns that the agreement might be in favour of Iran.
Axios reported that the possible pact would extend the current ceasefire by 60 days, during which the Strait of Hormuz would be reopened. Iran could reportedly sell oil without restrictions and negotiations would be held on Iran’s nuclear program.
Republican senator Roger Wicker said that agreeing to such a ceasefire would mean “everything accomplished by Operation Epic Fury would be for naught”.
Fellow Republican senator Ted Cruz from Texas also criticised the potential deal, posting on X, “If the result of all that is to be an Iranian regime – still run by Islamists who chant ‘death to America’ – now receiving billions of dollars, being able to enrich uranium & develop nuclear weapons, and having effective control over the Strait of Hormuz, then that outcome would be a disastrous mistake.”
