The U.S. and Iran have reportedly reached a preliminary agreement that could finally reopen the Strait of Hormuz and begin easing months of instability tied to the ongoing Middle East conflict, according to senior officials familiar with the negotiations.
While the agreement has not yet been formally signed, officials told multiple outlets that both sides have agreed “in principle” to a framework that would gradually reopen one of the world’s most critical shipping lanes while also addressing Iran’s nuclear program.
The reported breakthrough comes after weeks of intense diplomacy led by President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio as tensions threatened to spiral into a broader regional war.
Trump addressed the negotiations Sunday morning in a lengthy Truth Social post, making clear that while progress has been made, the administration does not intend to rush into a final agreement.
“The negotiations are proceeding in an orderly and constructive manner,” Trump wrote.
“The Blockade will remain in full force and effect until an agreement is reached, certified, and signed.”
The president additionally stressed that any final deal must permanently prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.
“They must understand, however, that they cannot develop or procure a Nuclear Weapon or Bomb,” Trump wrote.
According to reports, one of the central components of the emerging agreement would involve Iran surrendering or dismantling its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, which Western powers have long viewed as dangerously close to weapons-grade capability.
Officials told reporters that part of Iran’s uranium supply could potentially be diluted while other portions may be transferred to a third country such as Russia under international supervision.
The deal would also reportedly lead to the gradual reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow but strategically critical waterway that handles roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil shipments.
The strait has remained largely shut down since the outbreak of the U.S.-Iran conflict on February 28, triggering massive spikes in global oil and gas prices and sending shockwaves through the international economy.
Rubio confirmed Sunday that negotiations had made what he described as “significant progress,” though he cautioned that the agreement remains incomplete, per the Daily Mail.
“Some progress has been made, significant progress, although not final progress has been made,” Rubio said during a visit to India.
Rubio also strongly defended the administration’s hardline posture toward Iran’s blockade of the waterway.
“This is an international waterway. They don’t own it,” Rubio said.
“What they are doing now is basically threatening to destroy commercial vessels using an international waterway.”
The secretary of state warned that allowing Iran to normalize interference with international shipping routes would create a dangerous precedent globally.
According to officials involved in the talks, Pakistan’s military leadership and several Gulf states have also quietly played major roles in mediating discussions between Washington and Tehran.
Despite the apparent progress, major hurdles still remain.
The agreement must still receive final approval from both Trump and Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, a process officials say could take several more days.
Iran has also publicly stopped short of fully committing to surrendering its uranium stockpile, while Israeli officials continue expressing skepticism about Tehran’s long-term intentions.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly warned Trump that Israel intends to maintain freedom of military action against Iranian threats regardless of any eventual agreement.
Still, after months of war, economic turmoil and fears of a broader regional catastrophe, the preliminary framework marks the most substantial diplomatic breakthrough since fighting erupted earlier this year.
If finalized, the agreement could begin stabilizing global energy markets, easing inflation pressures and reducing the threat of a wider Middle East war that many feared was rapidly approaching.
