U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday, June 1 that negotiations between the United States and Iran are progressing smoothly, and the two sides may reach an agreement within the next week to extend the current ceasefire arrangement and promote the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
In a phone interview with ABC News that day, Trump said: “It looks good, it looks very good.” He revealed that negotiations were briefly affected by the situation in Lebanon earlier in the day, but the issue was quickly resolved.
Commenting on the day’s fluctuations, Trump said Iran was dissatisfied with Israeli military operations in Lebanon, which temporarily affected the atmosphere of the negotiations.
Trump said he then spoke separately with Hezbollah and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“So, I spoke with Hezbollah, and I said no shooting, and I talked to Bibi, and said, no shooting, and they both stopped shooting each other,” Trump said.
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Regarding the emerging U.S.–Iran agreement, Trump said that resolving disputes through diplomacy could potentially be more significant than outcomes achieved through military action.
Trump said a peace agreement with Iran could be “even better than a military victory.”
However, Trump also acknowledged that the negotiations are not easy. He said there has been longstanding hostility between the United States and Iran, and both sides face major challenges in reaching an agreement.
“It’s not an easy thing for them. It’s actually not easy from our standpoint either. But we’re getting what we need to get,” Trump said.
Memorandum of understanding with Iran could be completed within a week
According to Reuters, the two sides are currently discussing a memorandum of understanding to extend the ceasefire and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
When asked when a final agreement might be reached, Trump said: “I think you’re talking about over the next week.”
However, he stressed that the agreement has not yet been finalized, as several key conditions still need further negotiation.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important energy transport routes, connecting the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. A large share of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments depend on this passage.
Separately, Reuters reported that Iraqi officials said on Monday, June 1 that a cargo ship in the Gulf waters about 40 nautical miles southeast of Umm Qasr was hit by two consecutive explosions, with the second initially assessed as a drone attack.
Earlier, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that the ship’s starboard side was struck by an unknown projectile, causing a large explosion.
Iraqi officials later told Reuters that shortly after the first blast, the same vessel was attacked again. Preliminary investigations suggest the second explosion was likely caused by a drone.
According to Reuters, a member of the Iraqi naval patrol involved in the rescue said: “As we were assessing the damage from the first explosion, we heard a drone hovering overhead, followed by a powerful blast that sparked a fire on the tanker.”
Officials said the fire was later brought under control, and no casualties have been reported so far.
As of now, no organization or individual has claimed responsibility for the attack, and the identity of the vessel has not yet been disclosed.
