Lead

U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he has had “very good talks” with Iran and that it is “very possible that we will make a deal,” as Tehran reviews a U.S. proposal that could formally end the war. Trump also threatened to resume bombing at a “much higher level” if Iran does not agree to a deal, according to multiple reports.

The remarks came amid reports that Washington and Tehran are negotiating a one-page memorandum of understanding to end the conflict and set a framework for detailed nuclear talks. Trump also said he believes a deal could be reached before his scheduled trip to China next week.

Coverage Comparison

Reports from ABC Australia, Al Jazeera, BBC, TASS, and Yonhap all carried Trump’s comments about progress and his threat to resume bombing. ABC Australia and Al Jazeera emphasized the threat, while BBC highlighted Trump’s decision to pause “Project Freedom,” a U.S. operation to guide ships through the Strait of Hormuz. TASS focused on Trump’s optimism about a deal before his China trip, and Yonhap reported on both the possibility of a peace agreement and the planned attack that Trump called off.

Two reports from the Jerusalem Post focused on the role of Gulf leaders in persuading Trump to delay a planned strike on Iran. According to those reports, the leaders of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar asked Trump to hold off, fearing that an attack could provoke retaliatory strikes on their infrastructure.

In contrast, an Iranian parliamentarian, Ebrahim Rezaei, dismissed reports of a near-deal as “an American wish list,” and Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman said the proposal is “still being considered,” according to BBC and TASS.

Key Claims

  • Trump’s comments on talks: Trump said he has had “very good talks” with Iran over the past 24 hours and that it is “very possible that we will make a deal,” as reported by ABC Australia, Al Jazeera, BBC, TASS, and Yonhap. He also said in an interview with PBS that he believes the war has a “very good chance of ending,” while cautioning, “I felt that way before with them, so we’ll see what happens.”
  • Threat to resume bombing: Trump threatened to resume bombing if Iran does not agree to a deal, according to ABC Australia, Al Jazeera, BBC, and Yonhap. He said bombing would resume at a “much higher level and intensity than it was before.”
  • Memorandum of understanding: Multiple reports, citing U.S. media outlet Axios, indicated that Washington and Tehran are working on a one-page, 14-point memorandum to end the war and set a framework for nuclear negotiations. The memo would reportedly include a suspension of Iranian nuclear enrichment, lifting of sanctions, and restoring free transit through the Strait of Hormuz. Reuters reported that two sources briefed on the mediation confirmed the information, but the proposal has not been publicly outlined.
  • Iran’s review of the proposal: Iran is reviewing a new U.S. peace proposal, according to ABC Australia and BBC. Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman, Esmaeil Baghaei, said Tehran would share its views with Pakistani mediators after concluding its review.
  • Skepticism from Iran: Iranian parliamentarian Ebrahim Rezaei called the reported proposal “an American wish list,” and said Iran will deliver a harsh response if the U.S. and its allies refuse to make concessions, as reported by TASS and ABC Australia. Baghaei also played down reports of an imminent agreement, calling them exaggerated.
  • Calling off the attack: Trump said he instructed the U.S. military not to launch an attack on Iran that was planned for Tuesday, following requests from the leaders of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar, according to Jerusalem Post, Yonhap, and other outlets. Trump said he had “further instructed them to be prepared to go forward with a full, large scale assault of Iran, on a moment’s notice” if a deal is not reached.
  • Gulf leaders’ concerns: According to Jerusalem Post, Gulf leaders fear that even a limited U.S. strike on Iranian infrastructure could provoke retaliatory attacks on desalination plants, electrical grids, oil infrastructure, and shipping lanes throughout the Gulf. The report quoted Princeton professor Bernard Haykel as saying that Saudi Arabia is worried about the destruction of its desalination plants, which could cause a humanitarian crisis in the summer.
  • Project Freedom pause: Trump paused “Project Freedom,” the U.S. operation to guide ships through the Strait of Hormuz, citing progress toward a deal, as reported by BBC. The pause soothed oil markets, but Trump later tempered expectations.

Perspectives

Trump Administration: President Trump expressed optimism about a deal, citing “very good talks” and the possibility of an agreement before his trip to China. He framed the pause on military action as a concession to Gulf leaders’ requests, while warning that bombing could resume at a higher level if negotiations fail.

Iranian Officials: Iran’s foreign ministry said it is still reviewing the U.S. proposal, with spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei calling reports of a near-deal exaggerated. Parliamentarian Ebrahim Rezaei dismissed the proposal as “an American wish list” and warned of a harsh response if the U.S. does not make concessions.

Gulf Leaders: According to Trump and Jerusalem Post, the leaders of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar requested a delay in the planned attack, citing ongoing negotiations. Regional analysts say Gulf states fear retaliatory strikes on their infrastructure and prefer a negotiated settlement, as reported by Jerusalem Post.