US and Iran reach deal but need Trump's final approval, officials say

by Naharnet Newsdesk 28 May 2026, 17:35

U.S. and Iranian negotiators have reached an agreement on a 60-day memorandum of understanding to extend the ceasefire and launch negotiations on Iran's nuclear program, but U.S. President Donald Trump has yet to give it his final approval, two U.S. officials and a regional source involved in the mediation efforts told U.S. news portal Axios.

U.S. officials said the deal terms were mostly agreed as of Tuesday, but both sides still needed to get approval from senior leadership.

The U.S. officials claimed the Iranians later came back and said they had the necessary approvals and were prepared to sign. Iran has not confirmed that.

The U.S. negotiators briefed Trump on the details of the final deal but he did not immediately sign off. "The president relayed to the mediators that he wants a couple of days to think about it," a U.S. official said.

Trump and his advisers thought they were close to a deal several times at earlier stages in the war, but none materialized.

The U.S. officials said the 60-day MOU will state that shipping through the strait of Hormuz will be "unrestricted." A U.S. official said this means no tolls and no harassment, and that Iran will have to remove all mines from the strait within 30 days.

The U.S. naval blockade will also be lifted, but that will happen in proportion to the restoration of commercial shipping, a U.S. official said.

The MOU will include an Iranian commitment not to pursue a nuclear weapon, the officials said. It will also state that the first issues to be negotiated during the 60-day window will be how to dispose of Iran's highly enriched uranium and how to address Iranian enrichment.

The U.S. will commit to discuss sanctions relief and the release of frozen Iranian funds as part of the negotiations. The MOU will also include a discussion of a mechanism to help Iran start receiving goods and humanitarian aid.

https://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/320368