U.S. President Donald Trump said in an interview with PBS News on May 6 that the United States and Iran could potentially reach an agreement to end the war before his visit to China next week.
Trump stated that if Iran accepts the conditions proposed by the United States, the two sides may be able to reach a deal that would bring the current conflict to an end. However, he also warned that if negotiations fail, the United States could resume or even intensify military operations in order to apply greater pressure.
Multiple media outlets have reported that Washington and Tehran are currently nearing agreement on a key framework deal. The proposed agreement could take the form of a brief memorandum and may include ceasefire arrangements, restrictions on nuclear activities, and adjustments to certain sanctions. This represents the closest the two sides have come to achieving substantive results since the escalation of the conflict.
At the same time, the United States has also signaled a degree of de-escalation, including suspending certain military operations in order to create space for diplomatic negotiations. However, major disagreements remain between the two sides on core issues, such as the duration of restrictions on Iran’s nuclear activities and the mechanisms for enforcing any agreement. These unresolved issues could still affect whether a final deal is reached.
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Since tensions escalated in early 2026, the conflict between the United States and Iran has continued to intensify, contributing to rising instability across the Middle East. Related military operations and confrontations have also affected global energy markets, particularly concerns over shipping security in the Strait of Hormuz, which at one point triggered fluctuations in international oil prices.
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The current situation displays the classic characteristics of “negotiation alongside deterrence.” On one hand, both sides appear interested in preventing the conflict from expanding further; on the other hand, military options have not been completely ruled out. Against this backdrop, progress in negotiations over the coming weeks will likely be the key factor determining the direction of the crisis.
Overall, Trump’s latest remarks send a relatively positive diplomatic signal, but the situation in the Middle East remains highly uncertain. Whether the conflict will truly come to an end still depends on whether both sides can reach agreement on the key outstanding issues.
