The United States is close to reaching a deal with Iran\u00a0that would end the war, reopen the\u00a0Strait of Hormuz\u00a0and see Iran give up its stockpile of\u00a0highly enriched uranium, regional officials told The Associated Press on Sunday. They said details and timelines would be worked out later.<\/p>\n
Iran has not publicly committed to giving up its uranium \u2014 a key demand of U.S. President\u00a0Donald Trump\u00a0\u2014 and the sides previously seemed close to a deal in recent weeks. Trump on Saturday said a deal had been “largely negotiated,” after calls with Israel and other regional allies.<\/p>\n
“The negotiations are proceeding in an orderly and constructive manner, and I have informed my representatives not to rush into a deal in that time is on our side,” Trump said on social media Sunday. He said the U.S. relationship with Iran is becoming “much more professional and productive.” <\/p>\n
The strait\u2019s reopening would begin to ease a\u00a0worldwide energy crisis\u00a0sparked by the U.S. and Israel attacking Iran on Feb. 28, which led Tehran to effectively close the crucial waterway. Prices have spiked for oil, gas and several downstream products, jolting the world economy. Experts say it would take several weeks or even months for shipping and prices to recover to prewar levels.<\/p>\n
The U.S. has\u00a0blockaded Iranian ports\u00a0for over a month, and Trump on Sunday said the blockade “will remain in full force and effect until an agreement is reached, certified, and signed.” <\/p>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1779639370_784_default.jpg\")
President Donald Trump walks from Marine One to board Air Force One in Morristown, N.J. on Friday. Trump said a deal with Iran on the war in the Middle East, including opening the Strait of Hormuz, has been ‘largely negotiated’ after calls with Israel and other allies in the region over the weekend. (Alex Brandon\/The Associated Press)Emerging deal to include Iran giving up uranium<\/p>\n
Secretary of State Marco Rubio,\u00a0on a visit to India, said that “significant progress, although not final progress, has been made” in negotiations, and the world would no longer need to fear Iran getting a nuclear weapon, without elaborating.<\/p>\n
Iran\u2019s President Masoud Pezeshkian told state TV they were ready “to assure the world that we are not after a nuclear weapon.” Iran\u2019s embassy in India responded to Rubio on social media, saying Tehran has an “inalienable” right to nuclear technology.<\/p>\n
Iran has always insisted its program is peaceful while enriching uranium to near weapons-grade levels.<\/p>\n
Under the potential deal, Tehran would agree to give up its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, according to the two regional officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive negotiations. <\/p>\n
One official, with direct knowledge of the negotiations, said how Iran would give up the uranium would be subject to further talks during a 60-day period. Some would likely be diluted, while the rest would be transferred to a third country, the official said. Russia has offered to take it.<\/p>\n
Iran has 440.9 kilograms of uranium that is enriched up to 60 per cent purity, a short, technical step from weapons-grade levels of 90 per cent, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency.<\/p>\n
Trump has sought greater concessions from Iran than those required under a 2015 Obama-era agreement that the\u00a0U.S. later withdrew from\u00a0under Trump.<\/p>\n
WATCH | How close was Iran to making a nuclear bomb?:![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1779639370_243_default.jpg\")
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How close Iran was to making a nuclear bomb<\/p>\n
U.S. President Donald Trump has justified war with Iran by saying the country was two weeks away from having a nuclear weapon. For The National, CBC\u2019s Eli Glasner breaks down those claims and how close Iran really was to building a nuke.<\/p>\n
On Saturday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei told the state-run news agency that there are “narrowing differences” between the Iranian and U.S. positions, but that Iran is cautious after being attacked twice in the past year during nuclear negotiations.<\/p>\n
Pakistani army chief Asim Munir, a key mediator, left Tehran late Saturday after more talks with Iranian officials. <\/p>\n
Strait would reopen<\/p>\n
Under the emerging agreement, the Strait of Hormuz would gradually reopen in parallel with the U.S. ending its blockade, the officials said.<\/p>\n
The U.S. would allow Iran to sell its oil through sanctions waivers, said the second official, who has been briefed on the negotiations. Sanctions relief and the release of Iran\u2019s frozen funds would be negotiated during the 60-day time frame, the official said.<\/p>\n
Both officials said the draft deal includes\u00a0an end to the war\u00a0between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon.<\/p>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1779639371_606_default.jpg\")
Vessels in the Strait of Hormuz are seen near the beach of Bandar Abbas, Iran, on Friday. Under the emerging agreement, the Strait of Hormuz would gradually reopen in parallel with the U.S. ending its blockade. (Majid Asgaripour\/West Asia News Agency\/Reuters)<\/p>\n