Trump Says Deal With Iran Is Near After Call With Netanyahu

President Donald Trump said late Thursday that the United States and Iran had reached a "great deal" and could sign it within days, possibly as soon as the coming weekend in Europe. He said he had spoken with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and added that the Strait of Hormuz would reopen immediately once the agreement is signed. Trump also said Iran had agreed not to obtain nuclear weapons and that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei had accepted the deal.

Netanyahu’s office said the two had discussed the emerging memorandum of understanding with Iran ahead of negotiations. While Israel is not a party to the arrangement, Netanyahu said he appreciated Trump’s commitment to ensure that any final deal includes removal of enriched material, dismantling of enrichment infrastructure, limits on missile production, and an end to Iranian support for regional proxy forces.

Earlier, reports in regional and Iranian media described an emerging 60-day ceasefire framework that would halt military activity, reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and give Iran gradual access to some frozen assets, with possible additional economic steps. The same reports said Qatar is serving as a mediator and that talks would continue on Iran’s nuclear program, including uranium enrichment and inspection mechanisms, but that no nuclear commitments would take effect until a broader deal is reached.

The developments followed reports of explosions in southern Iran, including near Sirik and Bandar Abbas. Iranian media also said Iranian forces had stopped an oil tanker that tried to enter the Strait of Hormuz without coordination, while a U.S. official told Reuters that American forces intercepted two Iranian explosive drones and that shipping through the strait continued normally. In northern Israel, alarms sounded in Metula after a drone infiltration warning, and the IDF said the Air Force intercepted a drone over an area where troops are operating in southern Lebanon. Israeli officials said they had not received advance notice from Washington, and an Israeli source told Channel 12 there was no known final framework agreement yet.