White House Believes US-Iran Rift Is Hours Away From Being Settled

The White House is banking on remaining US-Iran disagreements wrapping up within hours with a formal deal announcement possibly landing as early as Sunday. Trump reportedly briefed Arab leaders on the deal draft on Saturday, and they threw their support behind it.

White House Pins Hopes on a Sunday Deal Announcement

Washington is cautiously optimistic a nuclear deal with Tehran could be just hours away. The White House believes the final sticking points between the United States and Iran will clear up before the day ends. A formal announcement of the agreement could come as early as Sunday, according to an unnamed American official.

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Trump Says the Framework Is Nearly Complete

President Donald Trump has repeatedly stated that a deal with Iran is largely in place. He confirmed that final aspects and details are still under discussion but insisted an announcement is coming soon. On Saturday, Trump personally walked several Arab heads of state through the draft deal. All of them voiced support for the proposed agreement.

“If Trump’s demands regarding Iran’s nuclear program are met, the president is ready to go a long way to reset relations with Iran,” unnamed advisers close to the process noted.

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From Ceasefire to Blockade : A Long Road to the Table

The path to this potential deal has been anything but smooth. The United States and Israel launched strikes on Iranian territory on February 28 a military campaign that left more than three thousand people dead. Washington and Tehran declared a ceasefire on April 8. Follow-up negotiations in Islamabad collapsed without results. No fresh hostilities broke out after that, but the United States then moved to impose a blockade on Iranian ports deepening economic pressure on Tehran. Now, after weeks of tension and failed talks, a breakthrough appears to be within reach.