President Donald Trump stated on Saturday that Washington is nearing a “very good agreement” with Iran, asserting that Tehran has committed to neither developing nor acquiring nuclear weapons. The president, speaking during an interview on Fox News with his daughter-in-law Lara Trump, characterized the commitment as a significant shift in the ongoing diplomatic standoff that began in February 2026.
While Trump expressed a preference for a negotiated settlement to reopen the strategic Strait of Hormuz, he maintained a dual-track approach involving military readiness. “If we cannot do it right, we will simply put the Department of War into gear,” Trump said, referencing the military apparatus that conducted strikes against Iranian targets in the summer of 2025. He noted that he is in no rush to finalize an accord, despite the economic pressure on U.S. gasoline prices, as he seeks to ensure the deal's long-term viability.
Behind the public optimism, the diplomatic process remains volatile. According to reporting by The New York Times, the United States has recently sent a revised framework back to Iran that includes tougher, more stringent terms for the proposed peace deal. Tehran has publicly maintained a more cautious stance, with various Iranian officials recently denying that a ceasefire deal with the U.S. is “finalized.”
Analysts writing for Al Jazeera suggest that even if the Strait of Hormuz reopens, the crisis has permanently altered regional dynamics. Tehran is reportedly seeking to establish an authority to manage the waterway, attempting to convert its temporary leverage into a permanent role in setting transit rules, tolls, and managing transit exceptions. This shift marks a transition from simple access to a more complex form of geopolitical governance over the maritime route.
Trump insists that the U.S. holds a superior hand, claiming that military operations last year effectively neutralized Iran’s conventional defense capabilities. “They are astute, but at the end, we have all the cards in our hand because we have defeated them militarily,” he stated. The president further noted that he requires only one primary guarantee to proceed: that Iran will not possess nuclear weapons. He highlighted that the current negotiations are being handled by “very tough” negotiators and that the U.S. is no longer in a purely defensive position against Tehran.
Despite this confidence, the path to a formal resolution remains subject to potential delays, as both sides navigate the transition from active military disruption to a new, contested form of regional management. The implications of these negotiations extend globally, as major energy importers including China, India, Japan, and South Korea remain sensitive to the commercial risks created by the ongoing uncertainty in the Gulf.
