U.S. officials told not to ‘rush’ into deal with Iran, Trump says

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters in New Delhi that he hoped to hear "good news" on negotiations to end Washington's war on Iran in the coming hours. Photo by Julia Demaree Nikhinson /POOL/AFP

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U.S. President Donald Trump tempered expectations of a Middle East deal by saying he had told his negotiators not to “rush,” hours after his top diplomat said the U.S. and Iran could strike a bargain to end the regional war as early as Sunday.

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Washington and Tehran have observed a ceasefire since April 8 while mediators push for a negotiated settlement, although Iran has imposed controls on Gulf shipping and the U.S. has blockaded Iran’s ports.

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On Sunday, during a visit to India, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters: “I do think perhaps there is the possibility that in the next few hours the world will get some good news.”

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Trump, however, later said in a social media post: “I have informed my representatives not to rush into a deal in that time is on our side.”

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“The Blockade will remain in full force and effect until an agreement is reached, certified and signed,” he added.

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Earlier, Trump had posted on social media that the deal “has been largely negotiated, subject to finalization between the United States of America, the Islamic Republic of Iran and the various other Countries.”

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Rubio said the agreement would start a “process that can ultimately leave us where the president wants us to be, and that is a world that no longer has to fear or worry about an Iranian nuclear weapon.”

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that he and Trump had agreed that “any final agreement with Iran must eliminate the nuclear threat entirely.”

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“President Trump made clear that he will remain steadfast in the negotiations regarding his longstanding demand for the dismantlement of Iran’s nuclear programme and the removal of all enriched uranium from Iranian territory, and that he will not sign a final agreement absent these conditions,” an Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP.

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‘Seize this moment’

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European leaders, keen to see Hormuz open and energy prices fall, welcomed the optimism early on Sunday. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen hailed “progress towards an agreement,” while Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer vowed to work with “international partners to seize this moment.”

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U.S. President Donald Trump said that Iran and the U.S. had ‘largely negotiated’ a deal that included opening the Strait of Hormuz, but the draft was “subject to finalization.” (-/AFP/File) Photo by - /AFP/File

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Iranian officials confirmed the existence of a draft agreement, but stressed that — despite the long-standing U.S. demand for an end to its uranium enrichment — talks on the issue of Iran’s contested nuclear programme have been deferred for 60 days after any deal.

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Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told state television Iran was “still prepared to assure the world that we are not seeking nuclear weapons,” but it was unclear if this promise would be enshrined in the text of the deal.

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‘Lasting peace’

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According to Iran’s Fars news agency, Washington has agreed to release part of Tehran’s funds frozen abroad under international sanctions and to end its naval blockade of ships travelling to and from Iranian ports.

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In exchange, “according to this draft, passage through the Strait of Hormuz would return to pre-war levels under Iranian management.”