President Trump said Tuesday that a peace agreement with Iran could be reached within “two or three days,” with the Strait of Hormuz set to reopen immediately upon signing, a development that would end the closure that has cut off roughly 20 percent of the world’s oil exports.
Trump made the remarks to reporters in New York after attending Game 3 of the NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs. “They were going back and forth, and now they both agreed, through me, to stop, and now we’re in the final throes of what will be a very, very good deal that will not in any way allow nuclear weapons,” the president said.
The Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of global oil flows, has been closed since Iran blockaded the waterway following the outbreak of the regional war. Its closure has driven a sharp rise in energy prices worldwide. Trump said the strait will “open up immediately upon signing, which could be in two or three days.”
Vice President JD Vance echoed that optimism Monday night in an interview on Fox News’ “Jesse Watters Primetime,” saying Iranian negotiators are “putting some real things on the table.”
“I don’t assume that anybody’s acting in good faith,” Vance said. “Obviously, we’ve been very involved in these negotiations, Jesse. We’re going to take the attitude of ‘accomplish the president’s mission, but verify over the long term that the Iranians are keeping their end of the bargain.'”
Vance added that Iran does not “want this war to continue,” but said any agreement would be a “home run for the American people” if it holds.
A shaky ceasefire has been in place since April, though the past several days have tested it. Iran launched three waves of ballistic missiles at Israel on Monday after Israeli airstrikes struck near the Lebanese capital of Beirut. Israel’s Defense Forces intercepted the Iranian missiles and retaliated with missile attacks on Iran.
Despite the exchange, Trump said he pressed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to stand down, warning that an Israeli strike on Iran could derail the negotiations. Netanyahu responded Monday that Israel would strike Iran “whenever necessary.”
Israel continued its military campaign in southern Lebanon on Tuesday, issuing evacuation orders for the coastal city of Tyre and conducting a wave of airstrikes in the surrounding area. Lebanon’s state-affiliated media reported at least nine people killed in a strike near the city. The Lebanese Health Ministry says Israel’s Lebanon offensive has killed at least 3,600 people and displaced more than 1 million since March.
Iran has insisted any peace deal with the United States must include a full ceasefire on all fronts of the regional conflict, including Lebanon. Iranian and Pakistani mediators have described a Lebanon ceasefire as a precondition for the broader agreement with the U.S.
