MEZIESBLOG

President Trump announced Saturday that the United States and Iran are on the verge of reaching what he described as a broad “Memorandum of Understanding pertaining to PEACE,” signaling a potentially dramatic pause in what many feared was an imminent return to war in the Middle East. 

Yet even as diplomatic momentum accelerated, critics in Washington and Israel warned the proposed agreement could ultimately strengthen Iran, weaken regional deterrence, and merely postpone a larger conflict until after the U.S. midterm elections. 

In a lengthy Truth Social post issued from the Oval Office, Trump said he had just completed a major conference call with leaders from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, and Bahrain regarding ongoing negotiations with Tehran.

“An Agreement has been largely negotiated, subject to finalization between the United States of America, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the various other Countries,” Trump wrote. 

He added that he had separately spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and that discussions over the “final aspects and details of the Deal” were continuing. 

Trump also announced that “the Strait of Hormuz will be opened,” a key component of the emerging framework. 

The announcement followed one of the most tense weekends in the region since fighting erupted earlier this year between Iran, Israel, and the United States. 

Military assets had reportedly been repositioned throughout the Persian Gulf in preparation for possible renewed strikes, while U.S. officials warned repeatedly that military action remained on the table if diplomacy failed.

Just days earlier, Trump himself said he had pulled back from launching a “very major attack” on Iran to allow negotiators more time. 

American bombers, naval assets, and missile defense systems had been repositioned across the region amid growing fears that the fragile cease-fire established in April was close to collapse. 

The breakthrough appears to have emerged from an intensive last-minute diplomatic push led by Pakistan. 

Pakistani Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir traveled to Tehran for direct talks with senior Iranian officials and reportedly played a central role in carrying messages between Tehran and Washington.

According to Axios, the new draft agreement Trump reviewed Saturday came directly out of the Iran-Pakistan negotiations. 

The report said remaining disputes now center largely on the “wording” of several provisions rather than major structural disagreements. 

U.S. officials cautioned, however, that Trump still retains the option to reject the deal and resume military operations. 

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei confirmed that Tehran and Washington were in the “final stage” of drafting a memorandum of understanding. 

He indicated the proposal could temporarily defer contentious disputes surrounding Iran’s nuclear program for another 30 to 60 days while focusing immediately on ending the fighting.

“At this stage, our entire focus is on ending the war,” Baghaei said, adding that “the positions of the two sides are becoming closer.” 

But despite the apparent diplomatic progress, skepticism spread rapidly among Republican foreign policy hawks and Israeli officials concerned that the agreement could hand Tehran a strategic victory after months of military pressure.

Senator Lindsey Graham issued a pair of sharply worded statements on X warning that any deal perceived as allowing Iran to retain long-term leverage over the Strait of Hormuz or Gulf oil infrastructure could dramatically alter the regional balance of power.

“If a deal is struck to end the Iranian conflict because it is believed that the Strait of Hormuz cannot be protected from Iranian terrorism,” Graham wrote, “then Iran will be perceived as being a dominant force requiring a diplomatic solution.” 

Graham warned that such perceptions could embolden Hezbollah in Lebanon and Iranian-backed Shiite militias in Iraq while undermining Israeli security.

“A deal that is perceived to allow Iran to survive and possess the ability to control the Strait in the future will put Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Shia militias in Iraq on steroids,” he said. 

Israeli concerns have also intensified behind the scenes.

According to Israel’s Channel 12, Israeli officials believe U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff is attempting to secure an agreement “at any cost” and has been urging Trump not to resume military action.

Meanwhile, critics argue the proposed temporary arrangement could simply delay conflict until politically inconvenient periods pass in Washington. 

Mark Dubowitz, CEO of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, warned that a 60-day cease-fire extension based on vague Iranian promises could effectively eliminate U.S. military leverage.

“If President Trump agrees to a 60-day ceasefire extension based on vague Iranian promises to ‘discuss’ nuclear issues, it’s game over,” Dubowitz wrote on X. 

He argued that once the crisis moves closer to the midterm elections, “major military operations become far less likely,” reducing pressure on Tehran to make significant concessions. 

Dubowitz also warned that Iran could emerge with billions in sanctions relief while continuing to use the Strait of Hormuz as leverage against global energy markets.

Iran, meanwhile, continued issuing threats even as negotiations advanced. 

Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf claimed Tehran had rebuilt military capabilities during the cease-fire and warned that any renewed U.S. attack would trigger a far harsher response than earlier phases of the conflict. 

For now, diplomacy appears to have narrowly overtaken the march toward war. But with major disagreements unresolved and critics warning the deal may only delay a larger confrontation, uncertainty continues to hang over one of the world’s most volatile regions.