United States Tensions Ease as Trump Schedules Iran Deal Signing for Sunday
As United States tensions ease, US President Donald Trump announced that a memorandum of understanding with Iran will be signed on Sunday to prevent Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and end recent hostilities, as Iraq and Syria seek high-level meetings in Washington amid regional stabilization efforts.
Trump Announces US-Iran Deal Signing
US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that a memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran will be signed on Sunday. [2] He expressed confidence that the agreement will prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon while warning that the United States has a “final option” if diplomacy fails. [2] Trump made the remarks in a post on his Truth Social platform, where he described the agreement as a barrier against Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons and stressed that no money would be exchanged between the two sides under the deal. [2] The announcement comes after weeks of intensive negotiations between the United States and Iran aimed at ending recent hostilities, reopening the Strait of Hormuz and addressing long-standing disputes over Tehran’s nuclear program. [2] Trump sharply criticized the 2015 nuclear agreement negotiated under former President Barack Obama, arguing that the deal paved the way for Iran to eventually obtain nuclear weapons. [2] “The previous deal allowed Iran a path to a nuclear weapon,” Trump said, adding that the new agreement would instead prevent Tehran from acquiring such capabilities. [2] He also said that remaining nuclear materials at Iranian facilities would be removed and destroyed at an appropriate time once conditions permit. [2] Trump expressed hope that the agreement would open the door to broader cooperation between the United States, Iran and countries across the Middle East in the coming years. [2] The proposed deal has reportedly been facilitated through regional mediation efforts involving Pakistan and other partners, though neither Washington nor Tehran has publicly released the full text of the agreement. [2]
Iraq's Planned Washington Visit
Iraqi Prime Minister designate Ali al-Zaidi plans to visit Washington in July. [1] His visit is expected to discuss strategic ties between Iraq and the United States, with economic cooperation topping the agenda, according to an Iraqi government spokesperson. [1] This is an important upcoming visit for the Iraqi leader, who was appointed only after six months of political struggles in Iraq following an election in November 2025. [1] Iraq is facing economic hardship due to the current blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. [1] Zaidi is also attempting to rein in Iranian-backed militias in Iraq. [1] As such, he faces major hurdles at home and will want US support. [1] Speaking to Rudaw on Saturday, Haider al-Aboudi said the visit by Iraq’s prime minister would focus on strengthening bilateral relations through an economic lens. [1] The report goes on to note that the files concerning the strategic relations between the two countries will be discussed during the visit. [1] The agenda begins with economic issues because the current Iraqi government’s vision is that the economy is the engine of the state, Aboudi said. [1] Zaidi’s anticipated visit comes as Iraq seeks to balance its strategic partnership with Washington while expanding economic cooperation and attracting foreign investment. [1] Baghdad and Washington have maintained regular dialogue through mechanisms such as the Higher Coordinating Committee under the Strategic Framework Agreement, with security, energy, and economic issues featuring prominently in bilateral discussions. [1]
Syria Seeks Engagement with Trump Administration
Syria’s president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, had also hoped for a visit to the White House. [1] He has enjoyed a good relationship with the Trump administration. [1] The administration has sought to reduce sanctions on Syria. [1] This is important because Syria seeks investment in reconstruction. [1] Syria is also trying to improve its economic situation amid the current Iran conflict, as land trade routes now appear more secure. [1] Meanwhile, Syria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ibrahim Olabi, announced on Saturday that Syria has joined the Group of Friends for combating Technology-facilitated Trafficking in Persons, Syrian state media SANA noted. [1] Syria has also proposed a Four Seas Initiative, which Syrian state media notes is an ambitious plan to transform the country into a regional hub for energy, transport and trade connectivity, received renewed attention this week during a policy discussion in Washington that brought together Syrian officials, energy experts, and regional analysts. [1]
Role of Shared US Envoy and Regional Stabilization Amid United States Tensions
The US has the same envoy for Iraq and Syria. [1] US Ambassador Tom Barrack, who is the ambassador to Turkey, is also the envoy to both countries. [1] As such, it’s possible both countries might angle for a visit coordinated with Barrack. [1] This would be important for Iraq and Syria, as well as for US policy. [1] It could help stabilize both countries. [1] The Trump administration will want to end the Iran conflict and get a deal while trying to show it can stabilize Iraq and Syria. [1] The US anti-ISIS mission has wrapped up in Syria and is expected to wrap up in Iraq in September 2026. [1] A visit by Sharaa has not been confirmed. [1] Nevertheless, it is possible it could happen. [1]
Iranian Response and Deal Details
Officials from both countries have recently indicated that the proposed agreement is close to completion, although it has not yet been formally signed. [2] The negotiations have also been accompanied by conflicting reports over the possible release of frozen Iranian assets. [2] Iranian officials and advisers have claimed that tens of billions of dollars in blocked funds could eventually be made available to Tehran, while US officials have maintained that any sanctions relief would depend on Iran’s compliance with the terms of the agreement. [2] Iranian officials, including Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, have recently said that a draft agreement is closer than ever to being finalized but cautioned that internal reviews are still underway. [2] Tehran has yet to officially confirm a signing date. [2] Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said the signing of any agreement was unlikely to happen immediately and would not take place on Sunday. [3] According to Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB, Baghaei said any potential agreement could instead be finalised in the coming days, suggesting that negotiations may still have hurdles to clear before a deal is formally sealed. [3] Trump warned that Washington retains another course of action if negotiations collapse. [2] “If for some reason the agreement is not completed, we have a final option,” he said, without elaborating. [2] “I hope we never have to use it.” [2]
North Korea Rejects Denuclearization Calls
North Korea said on Sunday that its status as a nuclear weapons state was irreversible and key to ensuring regional stability, rejecting calls by the United States and its allies for denuclearisation. [4] Pyongyang has repeatedly insisted it will not abandon its nuclear arsenal, portraying it as essential to deterrence, with Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of leader Kim Jong Un calling the policy a line of no retreat earlier this month. [4] The North’s statement came after a trilateral meeting between South Korea, Japan and the United States in Tokyo on Friday, at which the allies reaffirmed their commitment to the complete denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula, according to Seoul’s foreign ministry. [4] The US and its vassal forces’ meaningless rhetoric against the DPRK can never affect the irreversible position of the DPRK as a nuclear weapons state, the unnamed spokesperson said in a statement published by the official Korean Central News Agency on Sunday. [4] The denuclearisation is an irreversibly finalised matter, the official added. [4] The spokesperson also cited Washington’s sales of weapons systems to Seoul and Tokyo as justification for Pyongyang’s pursuit of its nuclear programme, describing it as a strong security guarantee for regional stability and peace. [4] No matter how hard the US, Japan and the ROK may quibble, they will never change the present position of the DPRK as a nuclear weapons state, the official said. [4] North Korea has accelerated its nuclear weapons programme since talks with Washington broke down in 2019, when a summit between Kim and US President Donald Trump in Hanoi ended without agreement. [4] In a possible reference to the failed negotiations, the spokesperson said no one can recover the denuclearisation permanently missed in the trend of the times. [4] An unnamed spokesperson of the North’s foreign ministry issued the criticism after South Korea and the United States reaffirmed the shared goal at the bilateral Nuclear Consultative Group meeting on Thursday. [5] It is an unreasonable talk and fantastic daydream to mention about disarming the other belligerent party’s nuclear weapons, the spokesperson said in a statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency. [5]
What to watch next: A visit by Syria’s president Ahmed al-Sharaa remains unconfirmed while Iraqi Prime Minister designate Ali al-Zaidi prepares for his July trip to Washington, and the US anti-ISIS mission is expected to wrap up in Iraq in September 2026.
