May. 26 at 3:22 AM
US forces said they have attacked missile launch sites and mine-laying vessels in southern Iran, in what a US military spokesman described as “self-defence” strikes. Earlier, Iranian media reported explosions in the southern port city of Bandar Abbas.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman cautioned that Iran & the US “have reached a conclusion on a large portion of the discussion topics”, but warned that “this does not mean that the signing of an agreement is imminent.” Iran & the US have not been “talking about the nuclear issue”& their focus is “on ending the war”, which began on February 28. He reiterated that there are, however, “no guarantees” that the US would honour its commitments in any potential deal and said Tehran does not care about “threats”.
President Trump said an agreement w/ Iran to end the war should involve regional powers – including Saudi Arabia, Pakistan & Turkiye – signing onto the Abraham Accords to normalise relations with Israel
Israeli PM Netanyahu has ordered “strong blows” against Hezbollah in Lebanon, saying his country is “at war” with the armed group. Netanyahu has said that Israel will ramp up attacks against Hezbollah, despite the recent “ceasefire” extension agreed to b/n Lebanese&Israeli officials. “We will wipe them out completely"
Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson has said that rumours of Iran being “offered” a
$12B payment to secure an agreement to end the war are being circulated by “parties attempting to sabotage the deal” and “undermine ongoing diplomatic efforts towards regional de-escalation”
Rumour: MOU terms being negoiated:
- Iran opens the Strait & has 30-day window to clears mines
- Ships to pass freely - no tolls for 60-days
- Tehran will continue to exercise security management over the Strait of Hormuz.
- US blockade lifted
- US sanction relief & unfreezing assets - phased process strictly tied to Iran's performance on its commitments
- Commitment to ending all military ops on every front, including Lebanon
- Cease-fire would extend for another 60-days
- Iran won't develop nuclear weapons & enriched uranium for 60-days
- Iran enters immediate negotiations to completely surrender, dilute, or remove its existing stockpile of highly enriched uranium
Basically, the terms of this MOU mirrors the JCPOA that the President Trump broke in his first term w/ Tehran. Note that this a 60-day MOU & not an actual agreement or peace treaty - it is a 60‑day confidence‑building framework, not a final deal
$USO $XLE $UNG $BWET $DBA