President Donald Trump said a peace deal between the U.S. and Iran is "very possible" during remarks made on May 22 [1].
The statement comes as the U.S. seeks to resolve a conflict in the Strait of Hormuz that has lasted nearly three months [2]. A diplomatic breakthrough would stabilize a critical global shipping lane, and reduce the risk of a wider regional war.
Trump made the comments in New York and while boarding Air Force One at Morristown Airport in New Jersey [1]. He said that a peace deal had been "largely negotiated" [3]. However, the president paired this optimism with a warning regarding the consequences of a diplomatic collapse.
"I believe a deal with Iran is 'very possible' but if negotiations fall apart we will bomb again," Trump said [4].
Despite the president's positive portrayal of the potential agreement, other reports suggest a more cautious outlook. Some assessments indicate Trump has lowered expectations that a deal was near, suggesting it may not be imminent [5].
The administration is facing mounting pressure to finalize an agreement to end the hostilities [5]. This pressure is compounded by internal political friction, as some conservatives criticize the proposed deal for being too favorable to Iran [4].
The current tension centers on the Strait of Hormuz, where ongoing warfare has disrupted maritime security. Trump's strategy appears to balance the promise of a negotiated settlement with the threat of renewed military action to compel Iranian cooperation [4, 5].
“"A peace deal between the United States and Iran had been 'largely negotiated'."”
The administration is employing a 'carrot and stick' diplomatic approach, offering a negotiated exit from the conflict while maintaining the threat of military force. The contradiction between the president's public optimism and the reported lowering of expectations suggests that while a framework may exist, critical sticking points remain. The outcome depends on whether the U.S. can satisfy domestic conservative critics while providing Iran enough incentives to cease hostilities in the Strait of Hormuz.
