The White House on Wednesday denied a report from Iranian state-run media that Washington and Tehran are considering a memorandum of understanding to resolve the ongoing war. Iranian state media published an alleged draft peace proposal outlining the restoration of commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz to pre-war levels within a month, along with the withdrawal of U.S. military forces and the lifting of the naval blockade in the region.
The Trump administration disputed the framework of the alleged deal, calling the report from Iranian state media "not true" and describing the memorandum as a "complete fabrication." The administration emphasized that "FACTS MATTER" in a social media response.
Negotiations and Standoff
The two sides have engaged in intense negotiations for several weeks, but neither appears willing to budge on their non-negotiables. The Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for global oil trade, has been effectively shut down by Iran for nearly three months, disrupting the flow of roughly 20% of the world’s traded oil. Iranian forces have sporadically fired upon commercial and U.S. Navy vessels since President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire agreement on April 7. The agreement, initially set for three weeks, included provisions for Iran to allow ships to transit the strait, but these terms have not been fully upheld.
Key Provisions of the Alleged Memo
According to the Iranian state media report, the draft proposal would require Iran to cease threatening or attacking commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, allowing shipping to return to pre-war levels. In exchange, the U.S. would lift its naval blockade on Iranian ports and remove some forces from the region. The proposal also suggested joint management of the strait by Iran and Oman.
U.S. Response and Ceasefire Status
The Trump administration has maintained that the ceasefire remains in effect despite multiple instances of U.S. forces coming under fire. The administration has not provided further details on the negotiations or any potential next steps in the conflict.