Ships sit in the Strait of Hormuz near Oman’s Musandam on May 4, 2026. (Reuters/Yonhap)
After US President Donald Trump paused an operation to guide vessels stranded in the Strait of Hormuz just one day after it began because of progress in negotiations with Iran, reports have emerged that the two sides are reportedly close to signing a single-page memorandum of understanding that would end the war and set the stage for nuclear talks. Iran has said it’s considering the US’ proposal.“Based on the request of Pakistan and other Countries, the tremendous Military Success that we have had during the Campaign against the Country of Iran and, additionally, the fact that Great Progress has been made toward a Complete and Final Agreement with Representatives of Iran, we have mutually agreed that, while the Blockade will remain in full force and effect, Project Freedom (The Movement of Ships through the Strait of Hormuz) will be paused for a short period of time to see whether or not the Agreement can be finalized and signed,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Wednesday.Project Freedom was an operation by the US military to guide civilian cargo ships through the Strait of Hormuz, which is currently being blockaded by Iran.US news website Axios quoted US officials on Wednesday as saying that the US and Iran are nearing an MOU that would end the war and schedule 30 days of negotiations to tackle such issues as lifting the blockade on the Strait of Hormuz, along with Iran putting a moratorium on uranium enrichment and abandoning its nuclear weapon development and the US lifting sanctions on Iran.Axios said the US had proposed these terms to Iran in a one-page MOU and “expects Iranian responses on several key points in the next 48 hours.”In fact, it was Iran that initially wanted to negotiate its nuclear program after ending the war. On Tuesday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters at the White House that what Trump wants is not a final deal, but an MOU that outlines the chief issues and scope of concessions for future negotiations.In a press conference with the Iranian Students’ News Agency (ISNA), Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that “the US plan and proposal are still being reviewed by Iran, and Iran will convey its views to the Pakistani side after concluding its assessment.”But in response to Axios’ report, ISNA noted that the Iranian authorities had “strongly rejected” proposals by the US deemed “excessive and unrealistic” in recent days and claimed to have “reliable information” that “what is still being reviewed by the Iranian negotiating team is the issue of ‘terminating the war,’ and the nuclear issue is not being discussed at all during this stage of negotiations.”The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) wrote on the X social media platform on Wednesday that it would guarantee the safety of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.The IRGC’s naval command said that “with [the] aggressor’s threats neutralized & new protocols in place, safe, stable passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be ensured.”The “new protocols” mentioned by the IRGC would appear to be the war-ending MOU that the US and Iran are discussing.It may also be significant that Araghchi, the Iranian foreign minister, met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday, just one week before Trump is scheduled to visit China. That has prompted speculation that China may attempt to mediate between the two countries.“Events in Hormuz make clear that there’s no military solution to a political crisis,” Araghchi wrote on X on Tuesday, adding that Iran would seek a complete and lasting solution through peaceful negotiations.As a result of Trump’s decision to pause Project Freedom, US pressure on Korea to join the operation is likely to subside.“Since the operation has been paused, we no longer need to consider [whether to take part],” said Wi Sung-lac, the director of national security, on Wednesday.By Kim Won-chul, Washington correspondent; Jung E-gil, senior staff writerPlease direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]
