Trump Says He'll Meet in Situation Room for Final Decision on Iran War-End Deal; Disputes Persist Over Hormuz

President Donald Trump said on May 29 he would hold a meeting in the White House Situation Room to make a final decision on a war-ending agreement with Iran.

The US has been conducting backchannel negotiations with Iran through mediators including Pakistan and Qatar. Most terms have already been agreed, leaving only Trump's final approval, Axios and other outlets reported earlier.

In a Truth Social post on May 29, Trump wrote that Iran must agree to "never possess a nuclear weapon or nuclear bomb." He also said the Strait of Hormuz must be opened immediately, without transit fees, for free and unlimited shipping in both directions.

He added that underwater mines were being cleared and that Iran would remove the rest. Trump also said ships stranded in the strait by "our amazing and unprecedented naval blockade" could now begin "return to home port procedures" because the blockade had been lifted.

On Iran's enriched uranium, Trump wrote that the US would work closely with the Islamic Republic of Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency to recover and dispose of it. He also indicated it could be destroyed inside Iran. "There will be no money exchanged until further notice," he wrote.

Trump's remarks, along with comments relayed by US officials, indicate an agreement may be near. Still, Iran's Fars News Agency cited sources on May 29 as saying Trump's claims mixed truth and falsehood and were an attempt to manufacture a victory. That suggests differences remain even if the two sides are close to a deal.

The draft memorandum, written in an "action for action" format, is now in the final internal approval stage in Iran, though no final decision has been made, Fars reported. The agency added that Trump, having realized it would be difficult to walk away from the agreement, was making statements that conflicted with the draft while also saying the naval blockade would end immediately.

Fars said Trump's claim that the Strait of Hormuz would be opened without transit fees does not appear in the draft memorandum. It said Iran would reopen the waterway according to prearranged procedures after the US lifts the naval blockade.

The agency also disputed Trump's claim that the US would destroy highly enriched uranium. That provision is not included in the draft memorandum either, and the assertion itself is entirely baseless, according to the sources cited by Fars.

Fars also said Trump omitted other provisions when describing the talks. The draft includes a clause saying the US will provide Iran with $12 billion in frozen assets immediately after the memorandum is signed, and that Iran will not begin the next phase of negotiations if that commitment is not carried out.

A full ceasefire in Lebanon in line with Hezbollah's position is also included in the memorandum, Fars said.

The agency said Iran would move in the next stage to discussions on lifting all sanctions and addressing the nuclear issue only after those matters are resolved. Any final agreement would be based on the principles and red lines of Iran's system and on deep distrust of the US, it added.

The following is Trump's full Truth Social post:

"Iran must agree to never possess a Nuclear Weapon, or a Nuclear Bomb. The Strait of Hormuz should be opened immediately, with no fees for passage, and free and unlimited navigation, in both directions. Any underwater mines (bombs) should all be removed (we have already blown up numerous mines with our excellent Mine Sweepers. Iran should immediately complete the removal and/or destruction of the remaining mines, which are not many). The ships that were trapped in the Strait due to our amazing and unprecedented naval blockade can now start 'RETURN TO HOME PORT PROCEDURES' because the blockade is now off! Please send my warmest greetings to your wives, husbands, mothers, fathers, and families, from your favorite President! The enriched nuclear material, sometimes referred to as 'Nuclear Dust,' is buried deep underground, with mountains having virtually collapsed over it due to our powerful B-2 bomber attack 11 months ago, and the United States (which, by agreement, along with China, is the only country with that mechanical capability) will, in close cooperation with the Islamic Republic of Iran and the IAEA, recover it and dispose of it. There will be no money exchanged until further notice. Other, far less important issues have also been agreed to. I will now be meeting in the Situation Room to make a final decision. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President Donald J. Trump"

Washington = Lee Sang-eun, Hankyung.com correspondent selee@hankyung.com