(Bloomberg) — The President of the United States, Donald Trump, stated that negotiations with Iran for a provisional peace agreement “will end well”, even after new clashes between forces of the two countries near the Strait of Hormuz.
In a post on Truth Social on Sunday night, Trump said that the constant speculation about the possibility of an agreement does not help the negotiations. The understanding under discussion foresees extending the ceasefire for about two months, Iran reopening the strait, and the end of the American blockade of Iranian ports.
“It’s MUCH harder for me to do my job and negotiate properly when political commentators keep giving negative opinions,” wrote Trump. “Just relax; everything will end well in the end.”
The president faces pressure to end a conflict that has driven up energy prices and is proving unpopular with Americans. At the same time, he must cope with possible criticism if the United States agrees to unlock billions of dollars in Iranian assets, one of Tehran’s demands.
Tensions, however, remain high. The United States attacked over the weekend radar sites and command centers in Iran, labeling the action a “proportional” response to moves Tehran deemed aggressive, including the downing of a drone over international waters.
In retaliation, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran struck an air base, according to the semi-official agency Fars. Kuwait, for its part, said on Monday that its air defences were facing attacks from hostile missiles and drones.
Despite the confrontations, negotiations between Washington and Tehran continue. The Tasnim agency reported that both sides are proposing changes to the draft agreement, though it stressed that there is no guarantee of a final understanding.
The oil market reacted higher. Brent crude rose 2.8% on Monday to $93.65 a barrel, after having fallen more than 11% last week, reflecting investors’ optimism about the possibility of an agreement and the reduced risk of a large-scale war.
Trump had stated on Friday, after a meeting in the White House Situation Room, that he would take a “final decision” on the negotiations. However, he chose to delay the decision while the parties discuss details about Iran’s enriched uranium stocks and the conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, which will likely require mine-clearing operations.
Iran also insists that any agreement with the U.S. include all conflicts in the region, including the parallel war between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Meanwhile, Israel expanded its offensive in the neighboring country and captured Beaufort Castle, a Crusades-era fortress, over the weekend. Hezbollah, in turn, intensified attacks against northern Israel. According to the Israeli military, more than 300 projectiles were fired by the group over the weekend.
Behind the scenes, the United States Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, spoke with the president of Lebanon, Joseph Aoun, and with the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, in an attempt to enable a new ceasefire initiative. The American proposal calls for, as a first step, the cessation of Hezbollah attacks against Israel and the suspension of the Israeli military escalation in Beirut.
According to Iranian state television, a preliminary version of the agreement would grant Iran exclusive authority to determine the nature of vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, a point unlikely to be accepted by Washington. The text would also mention the U.S. commitment to release US$12 billion in frozen assets for Iranian banks within 60 days. The White House did not comment on the information.
