U.S. and Iran Reportedly Near Memorandum to Pause Fighting as Trump Weighs Decision

Overview

• Negotiators working through Pakistan and Qatar reported substantial progress on a one-page memorandum that would establish a roughly 60-day ceasefire and steps to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, according to multiple U.S. and regional sources.
• President Trump said negotiators are close and that he could decide by Sunday whether to sign the deal, while warning that failure would prompt renewed U.S. attacks.
• Draft terms reported by Axios and other outlets include removal of Iranian mines from the Strait, partial unfreezing of Iranian assets to allow oil sales, and a process to negotiate limits on Iran’s enrichment program.
• U.S. operational moves have unsettled allies: the Pentagon recently suspended planned troop rotations in Europe and ordered returns from Germany, and Trump announced on Truth Social an extra 5,000 troops for Poland without prior allied notice.
• Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao told Congress some foreign military sales are on pause to conserve munitions for operations against Iran, a step that Taiwan says it has not been formally notified about and that adds diplomatic friction with partners.