Trump Says Draft Iran Deal Would Bar Nuclear Arms and Reopen Hormuz

In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, U.S. President Donald Trump said a developing deal between Washington and Tehran would include an Iranian pledge not to obtain nuclear weapons and a reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. He said he planned to issue a formal announcement soon saying the United States had reached an agreement with Iran, even though Tehran has not yet officially accepted the terms.

Trump described the arrangement as a major step toward ending the long-running confrontation between the two sides. He said the question of removing nuclear material from Iran would be handled later, adding that there is no immediate pressure to do so. He also said the deal would not include sending money to Iran, though sanctions relief could come later, depending on Iranian behavior.

"We'll see how they behave," Trump said, adding that significant monitoring mechanisms would be used to enforce the understandings, without explaining how they would work. He also said that if Iran does not approve the agreement, he still believes both sides want to end the fighting: "I think they want to finish it. That kind of thing has never happened to them before."

Trump also addressed tensions with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after recent strikes in Lebanon, saying those military actions had nearly damaged the diplomatic talks. Still, he said Netanyahu supports the deal's principles. "Bibi is OK with it," Trump said. "Why is it good for Bibi? Because Iran must not have nuclear weapons under any circumstances."