Trump Says Iran Deal Could Be Signed Tomorrow as Regional Tensions Continue

President Donald Trump said a deal with Iran could be signed as soon as tomorrow, and said it would be followed by a return to free movement through the Strait of Hormuz. At the same time, reports said the United Arab Emirates had agreed to release billions of dollars in frozen Iranian funds. Trump repeated that the agreement is meant to stop Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.

Iran, meanwhile, said it intends to charge vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz. A separate American report claimed that Tehran has recently tried to block access to enriched uranium stockpiles by collapsing tunnels and laying mines near sensitive sites.

Trump is expected to attend a summit in France with Western and Arab leaders, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is not expected to participate. In an interview with Meet the Press, Avigdor Liberman said he was not sure Netanyahu would run in the next election if he judged his chances of winning to be low. Liberman also said he would not sit in a government with Netanyahu, the ultra-Orthodox parties, or the Arab parties.

Security tensions continued in the north after a night of alerts and interceptions. Metula council head David Azoulay criticized the government and security officials after 12 interceptions were recorded overnight and in the morning, and called for a tougher response. In Benjamin, a Palestinian who came to a farm threatened the owner with a large rock, prompting the owner to shoot him, seriously but not critically wounding him. Police are investigating.

In a separate unusual incident on Thursday over Hungary, an Israeli plane briefly lost contact with air traffic control. Two Hungarian fighter jets were scrambled and escorted it until it left Hungarian airspace. Near the Sea of Galilee, 11 people, including three children, were evacuated for treatment after jackal bites. All were treated and vaccinated, and most were released home.