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US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that his administration is "not satisfied" yet with the terms of a deal being negotiated with Iran, but expressed confidence that an agreement would be reached. Speaking at a cabinet meeting at the White House, Trump said Iran was "very much intent" on making a deal, but added, "So far, they haven't gotten there... we're not satisfied with it, but we will be."

Trump reiterated that Iran was negotiating from a weak position, saying, "Their navy is gone. Their air force is gone. Everything's gone, and they are negotiating on fumes." He also stressed that "nobody" will control the Strait of Hormuz, rejecting Iran's push to regulate traffic through the crucial waterway, and said his administration was not discussing sanctions relief in the negotiations.

Coverage comparison

The president's remarks were reported by multiple outlets, including BBC, Dawn, Jerusalem Post, The Hindu, and Yonhap News. Most reports focused on Trump's dissatisfaction with the current terms and his characterization of Iran's intent to reach a deal. BBC's diplomatic correspondent Paul Adams described the situation as a ceasefire "hanging by a thread" and a diplomatic process "making progress," while also noting recent exchanges between the US and Iran, including an Iranian attack on an American air base and US strikes on Iranian sites.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, briefing the meeting, said Washington's first option is diplomacy. "There has been some progress," he said, adding, "We'll see over the next few hours or days if progress can be made." Rubio also noted that the president has "other options as well if that doesn't work."

Key claims

  • Trump said he is "not satisfied" yet with the terms of the deal being negotiated with Iran, but expects to be satisfied eventually or will "just finish the job."
  • Trump said Iran is "very much intent" on reaching a deal to end hostilities.
  • Secretary of State Marco Rubio said there has been "some progress" in negotiations.
  • Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reiterated Trump's "redline" demands, including that Iran commit not to pursue a nuclear weapon, turn over its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, and reopen the Strait of Hormuz for free navigation.
  • Trump insisted that "nobody" will control the Strait of Hormuz and that the waterway will be "open to everybody."
  • Trump said the US is not discussing any easing of sanctions or giving money to Iran.
  • The White House branded a reported draft agreement as a "complete fabrication."
  • Both sides signalled progress had been made towards a deal late last week, though expectations were later tempered.
  • Trump has rejected a draft memorandum of understanding and sent a revised version with tougher conditions back to Tehran, as reported by Yonhap.

Background and recent developments

The remarks come amid reports that Washington and Tehran are inching toward a memorandum of understanding that would extend the current ceasefire, reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and continue negotiations on Iran's nuclear program. According to reports cited by Yonhap, the potential agreement would extend the ceasefire by 60 days.

A ceasefire was agreed on 8 April and has largely been observed, though recent days have seen renewed tensions. The US military conducted what it called self-defense strikes on Iranian radar and command sites for drones, and Iran targeted US troops in Kuwait with ballistic missiles, as reported by Yonhap.

In a social media post on Monday, Trump said peace talks with Iran would result in a "good" deal for the US, and criticized critics in both parties for "negatively chirping" about the negotiations.

Perspectives

US Administration

The White House, through President Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, has expressed cautious optimism about the talks while maintaining a firm stance on key demands. Trump has emphasized that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon and that the Strait of Hormuz must be open for unrestricted shipping. He has also ruled out discussions on sanctions relief, saying, "No sanctions, no money." A White House official later reiterated that Trump "will only make a deal that is good for America and satisfies his redlines."

Iran

Iranian state TV reported details of a draft agreement, which included reopening the Strait of Hormuz and the withdrawal of US forces from the region, according to BBC. The White House branded the text a "complete fabrication." Tehran has cautioned that a deal is "not imminent," as reported by BBC. Iran has also responded to recent US strikes with warnings that "aggression will not go unanswered," and its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it attacked an American air base.