Washington, DC: President Donald Trump on Monday expressed guarded optimism that negotiators were close to securing an agreement with Tehran to extend a fragile ceasefire and reopen a vital shipping route, saying he still needed to “get a few more points” before signing off on a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), ANI reported.
“I still have to get a few more points,” Trump told ABC News, describing his decision to withhold final approval of the MoU intended to unblock the strategic maritime chokepoint. He told NBC News he believed it would be acceptable if Iran ended talks, adding, “I think it’s fine if they’re done talking,” and stressing, “But they haven’t informed us of that. It doesn’t mean we’re going to go and start dropping bombs all over there.”
Diplomatic Momentum, Rapid Pace
Earlier on Monday the president posted on Truth Social that “Talks are continuing, at a rapid pace, with the Islamic Republic of Iran.” He said negotiations were progressing despite renewed clashes between American and Iranian forces over the weekend and into Monday that have placed strain on the nearly two-month-old ceasefire reached after weeks of heavy fighting.
The recent exchanges of fire renewed fears the truce could unravel and jeopardise the diplomatic channel between Washington and Tehran. Trump told NBC that Washington had not received formal notice that Iran had paused talks, dismissing reports to that effect.
Regional Tensions Flare Amid Diplomacy
Trump also said he had spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and representatives of Hezbollah as part of efforts to prevent the Lebanon front from derailing broader negotiations. He wrote on Truth Social, “I had a very productive call with Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu of Israel, and there will be no Troops going to Beirut, and any Troops that are on their way have already been turned back.”
He added that Hezbollah had agreed to halt hostilities with Israel, posting, “They agreed that all shooting will stop — that Israel will not attack them, and they will not attack Israel.”
Military Escalation Tests Truce
Those diplomatic claims came as Israel stepped up military actions in Lebanon. Over the weekend, Israeli forces carried out their deepest ground incursion into Lebanese territory in 26 years. On Monday, Netanyahu ordered fresh strikes against Hezbollah-held southern suburbs of Beirut, a move that reportedly prompted Tehran to suspend message exchanges with Washington via intermediaries.
Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araqchi warned of wider consequences on X, writing, “The ceasefire between Iran and the US is unequivocally a ceasefire on all fronts, including in Lebanon. Its violation on one front is a violation of the ceasefire on all fronts. The US and Israel are responsible for the consequences of any violation.”
