WASHINGTON — In a bid to defuse escalating tensions across the Middle East, President Donald Trump signaled that the United States and Iran could finalize a breakthrough agreement within the next week. The prospective deal aims to extend an interim ceasefire and fully reopen the vital Strait of Hormuz, projecting diplomatic momentum despite conflicting signals from Tehran and mounting regional friction.
Speaking in a telephone interview with ABC News chief Washington correspondent Jonathan Karl, Trump described the backchannel negotiations as “looking good,” brushing aside earlier complications that briefly threatened to derail the talks.
“There was a little glitch today, but I turned that one around very quickly,” Trump said.
According to the president, the impasse occurred after Iranian officials bristled at expanded Israeli airstrikes targeting Hezbollah infrastructure in Lebanon. Trump asserted that he intervened directly with key regional players, pressing for an immediate de-escalation to safeguard the fragile U.S.–Iranian dialogue. Framing the talks as a potential turning point in modern Middle Eastern statecraft, Trump argued that diplomacy offers far greater dividends than sustained confrontation.
“A peace agreement with Iran could be even better than a military victory,” he said.
Unblocking the Strategic Maritime Artery
At the center of the negotiations is a formal memorandum of understanding aimed at lifting maritime restrictions in the Persian Gulf and guaranteeing safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. Because approximately 20% of the world’s petroleum transits the narrow waterway daily, prolonged disruptions risk triggering widespread volatility across global energy markets and supply chains.
Trump indicated that a framework could be concluded within seven days, though he acknowledged that critical sticking points remain unresolved.
“It’s not an easy thing for them,” Trump noted, citing decades of strategic mistrust and domestic political sensitivities on both sides. “It’s actually not easy from our standpoint either. But we’re getting what we need to get.” He added, “I still have to get a few more points,” without detailing specific demands.
Parallel Understandings Across the Levant
The diplomatic push follows hours of turbulence on Monday, when Iranian officials signaled a suspension of talks over Israeli military activity in Lebanon. Trump quickly took to social media to push back against claims that the track had collapsed, insisting that technical negotiations were proceeding at a rapid clip.
Beyond maritime transit, Trump claimed that direct personal diplomacy had helped stabilize the northern front between Israel and Lebanon. He reported speaking with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to secure assurances that the Israel Defense Forces would avoid ground incursions into central Beirut. In exchange, regional intermediaries reportedly secured informal commitments from Hezbollah to halt cross-border drone and rocket strikes.
Veteran defense analysts caution, however, that informal truces in the region remain exceptionally fragile. With mistrust deeply entrenched, the coming days will test whether verbal assurances can be forged into an enforceable, durable peace.
