U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he expects to reach a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Iran on ending hostilities within the next week.
In a phone interview with ABC News, Trump was asked when the MOU for reopening the Strait of Hormuz would be completed and signed. "I think within the next week, you'll be talking about that," he said, according to the broadcaster. Still, Trump indicated a deal had not yet been reached, saying, "I still have to resolve several additional issues."
Iran, however, appears to be taking a tougher stance. Iranian semi-official news agency Tasnim reported the same day that Tehran had decided to suspend negotiations with the United States, citing the continuation of Israeli attacks on Lebanon. Trump subsequently moved to defuse the situation, saying he had spoken with Israel and Hezbollah, the pro-Iran armed faction in Lebanon, and that the two sides had agreed to halt hostilities.
Mohsen Rezaei, military adviser to Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, warned on X, formerly Twitter, that "the Strait of Hormuz is under Iranian control." He added, "We will not tolerate the continuation of the (U.S.) naval blockade, nor will we tolerate the escalation of tensions in Lebanon. Our military's patience also has its limits." Iran's chief negotiator Ghalibaf, who also serves as Mohammad Bagher Speaker of Parliament, said on X that he had spoken with Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, telling him, "I made it clear that if Israel's aggression against Lebanon continues, we will directly confront the enemy."
In an interview with his daughter-in-law Lara Trump that aired on Oct. 30, Trump also said he was "close to a very good deal," but Iran declared on Tuesday that it was suspending negotiations.
