By Richard Wood24 May 2026 21:30
The United States and Iran have signalled they are inching towards a peace deal to turn the existing ceasefire that ended weeks of conflict into a more long-lasting settlement.
Both sides are talking of a “memorandum of understanding” that will set out a roadmap for resolving all outstanding issues. But what it contains remains unclear.
One vital and potentially deal-breaking issue is who controls the Strait of Hormuz.
Donald Trump wrote in a social media post on the weekend that the critical waterway would reopen under the memorandum.
But multiple Iranian media outlets have since reported that the strait would remain under Iranian supervision.
Iran is demanding that the US blockade on its ports be lifted at the same time, but in a social media post on Sunday, Trump said: “The Blockade will remain in full force and effect until an agreement is reached, certified, and signed,” apparently referencing a final accord rather than the memorandum.
The Iranian regime has insisted the Strait of Hormuz should not come under American influence or control.
“The Strait of Hormuz has nothing to do with America. This is an issue between us and the coastal countries,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Ismaeil Baghaei said.
