President Donald Trump announced Saturday, May 18, 2026, that a deal with Iran has been largely negotiated [1, 2].
The announcement comes amid rising tensions over Iran's nuclear program. A negotiated agreement is intended to avert further military escalation and secure regional stability.
Trump said during a live broadcast from the Washington, D.C. area that he would not be rushed into a peace deal [1, 2]. Despite the caution regarding the timeline, he indicated that the Strait of Hormuz would be opened as part of the agreement [2].
"The clock is ticking," Trump said [3].
The president continued his comments on May 19, 2026, suggesting a swift resolution to the conflict [4]. He said that the war is going to end very quickly [5].
The negotiations center on addressing Iran's nuclear ambitions and the security of critical shipping lanes. By reopening the Strait of Hormuz, the deal aims to restore the flow of global trade, and reduce the risk of naval confrontations in the Persian Gulf.
Trump said the administration is focused on securing terms that prevent further nuclear proliferation while ensuring the immediate cessation of hostilities [6, 7].
“"The Strait of Hormuz will be opened as part of the agreement."”
The potential reopening of the Strait of Hormuz represents a significant shift in geopolitical leverage, as the waterway is a primary artery for global energy supplies. If the deal is finalized, it would signal a move away from maximum pressure tactics toward a diplomatic framework to curb Iran's nuclear capabilities.
