President Trump announced on May 23 that a draft framework agreement to end the Iran war has been “largely negotiated” between the United States, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and several regional countries. The deal’s finalization is reportedly imminent, with details expected to drop soon, particularly around one critical piece: reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
What we know about the deal
The announcement came after Trump held calls with leaders from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, and Bahrain, as well as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Trump characterized those conversations as having gone “very well.”
The framework builds on months of stop-and-start diplomacy. A two-week ceasefire brokered through Pakistani mediation in April 2026 created the breathing room for more substantive peace negotiations. That ceasefire followed US-Israel military operations against Iranian targets that began around late February or early March 2026.
At the core of the emerging deal is a one-page memorandum of understanding discussed in early May. It covers two big items: a nuclear moratorium from Iran and sanctions relief from the US.
