{"id":27189,"date":"2026-05-24T10:02:29","date_gmt":"2026-05-24T10:02:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/us-iran-peace-talks\/"},"modified":"2026-05-24T10:02:29","modified_gmt":"2026-05-24T10:02:29","slug":"us-iran-peace-talks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/us-iran-peace-talks\/","title":{"rendered":"Pakistan says it may host US\u2013Iran peace talks \u2018very soon\u2019 as Rubio reports progress and Trump calls deal \u2018largely negotiated\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"<article>\n<h2>Lead<\/h2>\n<p>On 24 May 2026 Pakistan\u2019s prime minister said Islamabad hopes to host another round of US\u2013Iran negotiations \u201cvery soon\u201d after US president Donald Trump declared a memorandum of understanding with Tehran had been \u201clargely negotiated.\u201d US secretary of state Marco Rubio, speaking in New Delhi, described \u201csignificant\u201d progress in talks but cautioned the outline was not final. Reports indicate the draft would reopen the Strait of Hormuz during a 60\u2011day ceasefire extension, allow Iran to sell oil and defer detailed nuclear negotiations. Officials and regional leaders warned the draft remains provisional and could yet collapse.<\/p>\n<h2>Key takeaways<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>The draft memorandum reportedly includes a 60\u2011day ceasefire extension and a reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to toll\u2011free navigation during that period.<\/li>\n<li>Iran would be allowed to resume oil sales and some frozen Iranian funds would be released in the first phase; US blockade of Iranian ports has been in place since 13 April 2026 according to reporting.<\/li>\n<li>US secretary of state Marco Rubio said \u201csignificant\u201d progress was made over the previous 48 hours but stressed the terms are not final; Trump said the deal was \u201clargely negotiated.\u201d<\/li>\n<li>Reports say Iran would clear mines in the strait and not impose passage tolls; Iranian outlets maintained Tehran would retain control of the waterway.<\/li>\n<li>A senior Iranian source told Reuters Tehran has not agreed to hand over its highly enriched uranium (HEU) stockpile; the NYT reported Tehran may have signalled limited willingness in separate reporting.<\/li>\n<li>Regional actors including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, Bahrain, Pakistan and Turkey participated in high\u2011level calls with Trump about the proposed outline.<\/li>\n<li>Senior US critics including former secretary of state Mike Pompeo and Senator Ted Cruz publicly condemned the emerging draft as overly favourable to Iran.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Background<\/h2>\n<p>The talks come after months of escalating conflict in the Middle East that followed US\u2011led and Israeli airstrikes on Iranian military facilities. US and Israeli operations since last year have, according to open reporting, significantly degraded portions of Iran\u2019s military infrastructure, but many strategic goals tied to Iran\u2019s nuclear and missile capabilities remain contested.<\/p>\n<p>Diplomatic mediators, led most visibly by Pakistan, began a series of shuttle talks weeks ago; a first round in Islamabad six weeks earlier, led by US vice\u2011president JD Vance, ended without an agreement. The draft memorandum now reported would temporarily stabilise shipping through the Strait of Hormuz \u2014 a chokepoint that handles a substantial share of global oil traffic \u2014 while deferring the technical negotiation of nuclear constraints to a later phase.<\/p>\n<p>Domestic politics in the US and across the region shape the window for any deal: Republican hawks have framed earlier strikes as decisive victories and warned against concessions, while many Gulf and European leaders have pushed early for de\u2011escalation to protect markets and infrastructure.<\/p>\n<h2>Main event<\/h2>\n<p>On 24 May President Trump posted that a proposal between the US and Iran was \u201clargely negotiated,\u201d while cautioning that final aspects were still being discussed. The announcement followed a weekend of calls involving Trump, regional leaders and mediators; Pakistan\u2019s prime minister Shehbaz Sharif said Islamabad hoped to host a further round \u201cvery soon.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marco Rubio, speaking to reporters in New Delhi, said negotiators had made \u201csignificant\u201d progress in the preceding 48 hours but emphasised that the progress was not final. He reiterated US policy that Iran must never obtain a nuclear weapon and that the Strait of Hormuz should remain open to global shipping without tolls.<\/p>\n<p>According to Axios, the draft memorandum would lift the US blockade of Iranian ports imposed on 13 April, require Iran to remove mines and allow unrestricted passage in the strait during a 60\u2011day truce, and unfreeze some Iranian assets. Iranian state and semi\u2011official outlets such as Tasnim described aspects differently, stressing Tehran would retain control over the strait and noting Iran had not agreed to concrete steps on its nuclear program.<\/p>\n<p>Iranian statements cited by Reuters said the draft would be sent to Iran\u2019s supreme national security council and, if approved, forwarded to Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei for final sign\u2011off. International reporting has noted no verified public appearances of Khamenei since his appointment in early March, and separate accounts have alleged he suffered serious injury in the 28 February strike that killed his predecessor, claims that remain disputed.<\/p>\n<p>The draft also reportedly would include halting hostilities on all fronts, including the Israel\u2013Lebanon theatre; that provision alarmed Israeli officials who sought assurances on their security, and Israeli leaders stressed they would retain the right to act if Hezbollah rearmed or attacked.<\/p>\n<h2>Analysis &#038; implications<\/h2>\n<p>If implemented, a 60\u2011day truce and reopening of the Strait of Hormuz would immediately reduce pressure on global oil markets by allowing Iranian exports to resume; market relief could be swift but temporary if broader political and verification questions remain unresolved. Oil traders and global insurers are likely to respond within hours of confirmation, but the size and timing of any fund releases will determine longer\u2011term market effects.<\/p>\n<p>Deferring detailed nuclear constraints to a later phase shifts the negotiation burden into a technically complex period that will require intrusive verification, timelines for reducing enrichment capability and irreversible steps for HEU disposition. That work typically takes months and depends on inspectors\u2019 access and agreed benchmarks \u2014 conditions that many US critics argue must be spelled out before sanctions relief.<\/p>\n<p>Regionally, an agreement that halts active hostilities could cool the Israel\u2013Hezbollah front and reduce Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping, but the durability of peace will depend on whether proxy networks and missile inventories are addressed. Tehran\u2019s continued political and material ties with groups such as Hezbollah are central to Israeli security concerns; any perceived allowance of that support will generate domestic backlash in Israel and among US hawks.<\/p>\n<p>Politically within the US, the draft sits at the centre of a partisan debate: proponents stress diplomacy can secure rapid de\u2011escalation without further military cost, while opponents portray the draft as rewarding Iran without adequate guarantees. The incoming phase of technical nuclear talks will likely become the next battleground in both diplomatic and domestic political arenas.<\/p>\n<h2>Comparison &#038; data<\/h2>\n<figure>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Item<\/th>\n<th>Reported draft MOU<\/th>\n<th>2015 JCPOA (benchmark)<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Ceasefire \/ timeline<\/td>\n<td>60\u2011day ceasefire extension; 30\u2011day procedural window for Hormuz measures<\/td>\n<td>Longer phased limits and verification over years<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Strait of Hormuz<\/td>\n<td>Reopen, mines cleared, no tolls during truce<\/td>\n<td>No specific maritime clauses<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Nuclear stockpiles<\/td>\n<td>Negotiations on nuclear limits deferred to second phase; Iran has not agreed to surrender HEU<\/td>\n<td>Extensive limits and stockpile monitoring agreed and implemented<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Sanctions \/ assets<\/td>\n<td>Some frozen funds to be released in phase one; US blockade to be lifted<\/td>\n<td>Sanctions relief phased with verified implementation<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\n<p>The table outlines where the reported MOU diverges from the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). The draft prioritises immediate de\u2011escalation and maritime freedom, while postponing nuclear verification to a later, more technical stage \u2014 a reversal of the JCPOA\u2019s simultaneous sequencing of limits and sanctions relief.<\/p>\n<h2>Reactions &#038; quotes<\/h2>\n<p>US secretary of state Marco Rubio framed the developments as fragile progress while reiterating non\u2011proliferation red lines and navigational freedom for the strait.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;We have made some progress over the last 48 hours\u2026that could ultimately \u2014 if it succeeds \u2014 leave us not just with a completely open strait,&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><cite>Marco Rubio, US secretary of state<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Rubio spoke in New Delhi and emphasised that technical nuclear questions would require further work and compliance before being finalised.<\/p>\n<p>President Trump publicly signalled near\u2011completion of an outline via his social platform but warned finalisation was pending; his post prompted immediate scrutiny and comment from regional and domestic actors.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;Final aspects and details of the Deal are currently being discussed, and will be announced shortly,&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><cite>Donald Trump, US president (posting on Truth Social)<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen welcomed the signs of progress while demanding a deal that de\u2011escalates the conflict and prevents nuclear proliferation.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;We need a deal that truly de\u2011escalates the conflict, reopens the strait of Hormuz and guarantees toll\u2011free full freedom of navigation,&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><cite>Ursula von der Leyen, European Commission president<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h2>\n<aside>Explainer \/ Glossary<\/aside>\n<\/h2>\n<aside>\n<details>\n<summary>Terms and mechanisms<\/summary>\n<p>The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow maritime chokepoint through which roughly a fifth of globally traded oil passes; closure or disruption quickly raises global fuel prices. Highly enriched uranium (HEU) is uranium enriched to weapons\u2011usable levels; disposition or removal of HEU is a central verification challenge. A memorandum of understanding (MOU) differs from a binding treaty: an MOU can set a political framework and timelines but typically lacks the enforcement architecture of a formal agreement. Verification mechanisms usually involve third\u2011party inspectors, stepwise benchmarks and linked sanctions relief intended to make reversals politically and economically costly. Ceasefires can be localised or theatre\u2011wide; durable peace generally requires sequencing, verification and confidence\u2011building steps beyond an initial truce.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<\/aside>\n<h2>Unconfirmed<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>No verified public sighting or recording of Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has been independently confirmed; reports about his injury and the 28 February killing of his predecessor remain unverified in open sources.<\/li>\n<li>Reports that Iran has agreed to surrender or significantly reduce its HEU stockpile are inconsistent across outlets and lack a clear mechanism for disposition.<\/li>\n<li>The exact size, timing and conditions of any frozen Iranian asset releases have not been made public and remain subject to negotiation.<\/li>\n<li>Whether the Lebanon\u2011Israel front will be fully and independently settled as part of the US\u2013Iran outline is disputed; Israeli officials have expressed reservations.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Bottom line<\/h2>\n<p>The reported draft MOU reflects a pragmatic diplomatic pivot: prioritise an immediate halt to large\u2011scale hostilities, reopen a critical maritime route and buy time to address nuclear and proxy issues. That sequencing can deliver fast de\u2011escalation and relief for global markets but shifts the hardest verification tasks into a later phase where technical, political and inspection disputes will intensify.<\/p>\n<p>The deal\u2019s survival will depend on clear, enforceable verification steps, transparency about asset transfers and credible mechanisms to prevent re\u2011armament by proxies. Domestic politics in the US and Israel, plus Tehran\u2019s red lines on sovereignty and control of regional allies, create real risks the outline could unravel unless mediators secure binding follow\u2011through.<\/p>\n<h2>Sources<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/live\/2026\/may\/24\/iran-deal-strait-of-hormuz-trump-middle-east-crisis-live\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Guardian (live coverage)<\/a> \u2014 international press coverage (source provided)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Reuters<\/a> \u2014 international news agency (reporting cited on Iranian approvals and internal sources)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.axios.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Axios<\/a> \u2014 US news site (reporting on the draft MOU terms)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tasnimnews.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Tasnim News Agency<\/a> \u2014 Iranian semi\u2011official news agency (statements attributed to Tehran)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The New York Times<\/a> \u2014 US news organisation (reporting on nuclear stockpile discussions)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tccb.gov.tr\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Turkish Presidency<\/a> \u2014 official statement source for comments by President Erdo\u011fan<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/ec.europa.eu\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">European Commission<\/a> \u2014 official (statements by Ursula von der Leyen)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Lead On 24 May 2026 Pakistan\u2019s prime minister said Islamabad hopes to host another round of US\u2013Iran negotiations \u201cvery soon\u201d after US president Donald Trump declared a memorandum of understanding with Tehran had been \u201clargely negotiated.\u201d US secretary of state Marco Rubio, speaking in New Delhi, described \u201csignificant\u201d progress in talks but cautioned the outline &#8230; <a title=\"Pakistan says it may host US\u2013Iran peace talks \u2018very soon\u2019 as Rubio reports progress and Trump calls deal \u2018largely negotiated\u2019\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/us-iran-peace-talks\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Pakistan says it may host US\u2013Iran peace talks \u2018very soon\u2019 as Rubio reports progress and Trump calls deal \u2018largely negotiated\u2019\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":27188,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_title":"US\u2013Iran talks near agreement; Pakistan may host \u2014 Insight Brief","rank_math_description":"Reports say a draft US\u2013Iran memorandum would reopen the Strait of Hormuz during a 60\u2011day truce and allow limited sanctions relief; negotiators say details and nuclear terms remain unresolved.","rank_math_focus_keyword":"US\u2013Iran, Strait of Hormuz, 60-day ceasefire, Pakistan mediation, Rubio","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27189","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-top-stories"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27189","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27189"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27189\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/27188"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27189"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27189"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27189"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}