Trump Meets Cabinet on Iran War Deal as Negotiations Near Critical Juncture
President Trump will hold a Cabinet meeting Wednesday as negotiations for an Iran peace deal remain at a precarious moment, with the emerging agreement already drawing fierce criticism from multiple quarters.
The Current Status
On May 27, Trump said both sides were close to finalizing an agreement involving strong inspections. The negotiations have been ongoing for months, with Trump initially setting a 60-day deadline in April 2025 for Iran to reach an accord.
Key Sticking Points
There are questions over Iran's nuclear program. While Trump wants Iran to renounce any nuclear ambitions, Iran wants a permanent end to the war before negotiations on nuclear weapons. Additionally, Iran wants sanctions relief from the U.S. and other countries and reparations from the war.
The Strait of Hormuz remains a major disputed issue. Iran's Fars news agency said the deal on the table would keep the Strait under Tehran's control, and dismissed Trump's claim that a deal was close as "incomplete and inconsistent with reality."
Expanding the Accords
On May 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump called for a significant expansion of the Abraham Accords as part of negotiations aimed at ending the Iran war. According to Trump, he urged Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, and Jordan to join the accords and normalize relations with Israel in a coordinated, simultaneous manner.
International Concerns
The deal has drawn skepticism from multiple sources. A person familiar with the matter told NPR that Israel is "very unhappy with the emerging deal" and views it as "an economic deal that doesn't address Israel's security concerns." Trump has warned that he would resume military operations if negotiations fail.