US-Iran ceasefire deal: Trump signals use of force on Iran if needed

Added: 2026-05-31

[00:00:00]And onto the details now, the United States and Iran closed in on a framework for a ceasefire extension detail, but President Donald Trump has yet to approve any agreement. Reports emerged that the two sides had reached agreement on a memorandum of understanding to prolong the truce for 60 days. Though US President Donald Trump claims that Washington retains overwhelming leverage in negotiations with Iran and warned that military action remains an option if talks fail to produce a favorable outcome.

[00:00:36]Sources say the MOU would open the Strait of Hormuz, but leave Iran's nuclear program unresolved with further talks to follow on the issue. The 60-day deal will say that shipping through the Strait of Hormuz will be unrestricted with no tolls or harassment and with Iran having to remove all mines within 30 days. The US will in return lift its naval blockade on Iran's ports, but only in proportion to how much commercial shipping is restored. The memorandum will also contain an Iranian commitment not to pursue a nuclear weapon.

[00:01:12]Well, earlier, US Central Command said its forces had shot down five Iranian attack drones and struck a ground control station in the port city of Bandar Abbas that was about to launch a sixth. Kuwaiti forces then intercepted a ballistic missile fired towards the country which hosts a large US base. The violence, the second flare-up this week where multiple countries have been caught up in the conflict.

[00:01:40]Well, US Vice President J.D. Vance also confirmed that both the parties were close to reaching the deal, adding that the US was in a position where it could substantially set back Tehran's nuclear program.

[00:01:55]>> If you look at what we've already here, assuming that we're able to get to a final agreement here, we're reopening the Strait of Hormuz, we've already decimated their conventional military, and we're in a position where we could substantially set back their nuclear program, not just during the term of this president, but over the long term.

[00:02:13]That's a very, very good thing for the American people. So, we're not there yet, but we're very close and we're going to keep on working at it.

[00:02:20]>> Well, the US warned Oman not to get involved in any effort with Iran to impose a toll in the Strait of Hormuz.

[00:02:27]While briefing reporters, US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said he spoke with Oman's ambassador, and Oman has not mentioned the idea of joint control of the Strait with Iran, with which it says it has discussed freedom of navigation.

[00:02:43]>> I think the president wanted to punctuate freedom of navigation in the Strait. I had a call with the Omani ambassador this morning, and he assured me that there were no plans for tolling the Strait. As he said, our countries have had 200 years of good relations. He wants to have another 200 more. And you know, I told him that this was a non-starter, and he did not want to risk either the Omani individuals or Omani financial institutions they are getting sanctioned.

[00:03:15]>> And for more, we have Akshay Donga joining us on this. Well, Akshay, to talk about the proposed 60-day ceasefire, what do you think of that extension in reducing tensions in the region, especially with the Strait of Hormuz reopening being a part of the understanding?

[00:03:32]>> Well, quite important as far as the diplomatic solution is concerned, Lipakshi. We all have been hoping for it. We all have been saying that dialogue and diplomacy are the only way out, because, you know, killing of entire civilization as you know, the leader of the US called it, was not exactly a way a civilized country go about with the conflicts at this scale, especially given the fact that both are massive countries. Iran obviously does not have as developed infrastructure military infrastructure as the US. So, it obviously wasn't ever a fair fight. And in in these kind of scenarios, the world also never favors a full-blown conflict given the fact that it is it is asymmetrical and it is it is injustice as well for many of the people on whom war is being imposed. So, uh the situation clearly sees that you know, this 60-day ceasefire is going to provide a massive diplomatic solution along with along with a space for diplomacy and discussions for for these very complex topics that are that are there in in terms of understanding the entire conflict between Iran and the US.

[00:04:40]>> All right. Also, despite reports of progress, President Trump has simultaneously not yet approved the agreement and continues to warn of military action if talks fail. What does this indicate about the US strategy?

[00:04:54]>> Well, probably a negotiating tactic here with with the US president still playing carrot and stick that though the ceasefire is there, but as much as US can leverage even at this point, they would like to do so.

[00:05:11]So, US president probably also waiting and watching the reaction on the ground, the reaction coming in from his voters, his own ratings as the US president.

[00:05:21]You know, we have the upcoming midterm elections on you know, during which it will heavily depend on how the leader is doing, especially the US president is doing. So, he also wants to see a sort of a feedback from his own voter base, from from the country, from from his political opponents as well as all the all the adversities that he has politically in the US as well as internationally too.

[00:05:46]So, it like it everything goes well if all the conditions are met if everyone is agreeing to the same thing.

[00:05:54]This ceasefire can can get a nod from the US president as well.

[00:05:58]>> Right. So, wait and watch situation there. Also, Akshay, the memorandum reportedly focuses on maritime security while leaving Iran's nuclear program unresolved for future talks. Could this temporary arrangement actually pave the way for a broader diplomatic breakthrough or does it risk only delaying this confrontation?

[00:06:17]>> Well, Lipakshi, this is in fact as per me as as per several of the security experts as well, this is the only way out. You know, you cannot expect to resolve all the differences in just one talk. You have you have given a sort of a buffer time now about 60 days during which you will do the new deal with the most recent things for issues such as the nuclear issue and the enriched uranium question. These are decades old problems and decades old questions as well as you know, frictions between the two countries and two sort of regions as you can say. So, it will take a lot of time but because of that because of certain unresolved issues, you cannot leave all the issues unresolved and let the global economy suffer.

[00:07:04]And and that perhaps was also the pressure on the US and Iran as well to to ensure that the global economy doesn't suffer, it doesn't plummet anymore because it's not it's not just the two countries but now the entire global pressure economic pressure is coming on to the countries which is also impacting the US economy, it's impacting Iranian economy in a massive way.

[00:07:25]So, both have agreed that yes, the talks should shall continue and the most recent issues will be resolved first and the more complicated will will take time and because of those that time taking process, everyone should not suffer.

[00:07:39]>> All right. So, things seem to move in the right direction as of now. Akshay, what message is the US also sending by warning Oman uh simultaneously against any joint arrangement with Iran over control of tolls in the waterway?

[00:07:53]>> Well, there are just two countries who can who can put put a blockade on on the Strait of Hormuz. One is Iran on on the northern side on the southern side, this is Oman.

[00:08:03]Oman has also been tempted by the Iranian side to to bring in a toll system so that both the countries can earn a massive revenue. But, US understands it that if it happens starts happening here, it will start happening everywhere. And then every everywhere there is a choke point countries will expect similar kind of compensation just to allow the the trade to happen in from those waters. And and then that would violate the maritime international you know laws, which which is also going to create a chaotic situation the global trade. So, that's perhaps the warning about.

[00:08:36]>> All right. Thank you so much, Akshay, for all those details.