US President Donald Trump said he had held talks with the leaders of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan and Bahrain on a memorandum of understanding on peace with Iran. He said the parties had largely agreed on a deal that includes opening the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump wrote about this on the social network Truth Social on May 23.
“The deal is largely agreed upon and must be finalized between the United States of America, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and various other countries on the list,” Trump wrote.
The American president said the call took place from the Oval Office of the White House. The talks included the crown prince of Saudi Arabia, the president of the United Arab Emirates, the emir and prime minister of Qatar, the field marshal of Pakistan, the presidents of Turkey and Egypt, and the kings of Jordan and Bahrain.
Separately, the American president held a conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which, according to him, also went well. Trump added that the final aspects and details of the agreement are currently being discussed and will be announced in the near future. According to Trump, among the elements of the agreement is the opening of the Strait of Hormuz.
Israeli and US military operation against Iran
On February 28, Israel attacked the Iranian capital Tehran. US President Donald Trump later said that the US military had launched a “major combat operation” against Iran to “eliminate imminent threats from the Iranian regime”. He accused the Iranian government of “funding and training” militants in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq and Hamas in Palestine. According to him, the aim of the military operation is to “destroy Iran's missile industry and navy” and “ensure that the world cannot be destabilised”.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it had launched missiles and drones towards Israel, and also attacked US military bases in Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
The European Union said it reaffirmed its “unwavering commitment to ensuring regional security and stability” in the Middle East.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said it was fair to give the Iranians a chance to get rid of “the terrorist regime and guarantee the security of all peoples who have suffered from attacks from Iran.”
On February 28, Trump announced that Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was dead, a claim later confirmed by the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA).
On March 1, the IRGC announced that it was launching “the most devastating offensive operation in the history of the Islamic Republic” against Israel and “American terrorist bases.” Trump called on the Iranian regime to abandon these plans and threatened to strike “a very strong blow” in response.
On March 6, Trump declared the need for a complete change in Iran's leadership, adding that he already had several candidates for the role of “a good leader.” On March 8, Iran's Assembly of Experts elected the son of the assassinated Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Mojtaba Khamenei, as the third supreme leader of the Islamic Republic.
On March 26, President Trump announced that he would suspend the destruction of Iranian energy facilities until April 6. However, due to the lack of progress in concluding the agreement, Trump extended the deadline by 20 hours, until the evening of April 7.
Trump threatened to destroy all bridges and power plants in Iran, as well as take other measures that would have devastating consequences for the Iranians and provoke a dangerous response throughout the region.
On April 6, Iran provided the US and Israel with a separate 10-point plan to end the war over Pakistan.
On April 7, Trump announced that he had agreed to suspend bombing of Iran and postpone a “devastating attack” on it for two weeks if the Strait of Hormuz was unblocked. He said the ceasefire would be bilateral and that Iran's 10-point proposal was an acceptable basis for negotiations.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said that safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz within two weeks is possible “under the conditions of coordination with the Iranian armed forces and taking into account technical limitations.”
On May 1, the head of the White House informed Congress that hostilities between the United States and Iran, which began on February 28, had ceased. At the same time, American military personnel will still be in the region.