US President Donald Trump has not made a "final decision" regarding the ceasefire agreement with Iran. Contrary to his earlier statement that he would decide at a White House meeting, Trump appears to be deliberating further. With the United States and Iran each making different claims and running on parallel tracks, the ceasefire is expected to take considerable time.
According to CNBC on the 30th (local time), Trump did not announce whether he would approve the war cessation agreement even after the White House Situation Room meeting that afternoon. Earlier, Trump had stated on Truth Social that he would "make a final decision at the Situation Room meeting."
What Trump is demanding is a ban on Iran's possession of nuclear weapons and toll-free access to the strait. However, Iran countered that "no such provisions exist in the body of the agreement." Iran's Fars News Agency reported that the dismantlement or destruction of nuclear materials is not included in the agreement. Iran also asserted that the core of the deal is the immediate payout of $12 billion in frozen assets.
Meanwhile, Oman is in discussions with Iran on a toll arrangement. "Oman must behave like other nations, or else it will be blown up," Trump said. In response, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf retorted, "We extract concessions through missiles, not dialogue. In negotiations, we only make them understand."
The US Treasury Department announced new sanctions against Iran on the 28th. The sanctions also targeted Iran's new attempts to exercise control over passage through the Strait of Hormuz. US online news outlet Axios reported that US and Iranian negotiating teams have reached a 60-day memorandum of understanding (MOU) that would extend the current ceasefire and lay the groundwork for nuclear negotiations.
The MOU includes lifting restrictions on the Strait of Hormuz, Iran's removal of mines from the strait within 30 days, and the corresponding lifting of the US blockade. According to Axios, the top priority during the 60-day period is processing Iran's highly enriched uranium and enrichment targets. The draft also includes negotiations on sanctions relief and the release of frozen Iranian funds.
"No funds will be exchanged until further notice," Trump emphasized, adding that "other matters of much less importance have been agreed upon."
In response, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned that "if the United States interferes with the management of the strait, it could lead to serious consequences," adding that "violations of the regulations will seriously threaten maritime security."
