The White House Situation Room became the focal point of global security on Friday as President Donald Trump convened a critical two-hour meeting to make what he called a “final determination” on a potential agreement with Iran. Despite the high-stakes session, the administration has not yet confirmed whether the president has reached a definitive decision to sign the deal.
The proposed memorandum of understanding aims to diffuse a monthslong crisis by extending a U.S.-Iran ceasefire by 60 days, lifting the U.S. blockade on Iranian ports, and establishing formal negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program. Central to the pact is the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital maritime chokepoint that has been closed to most traffic for three months, halting roughly 20% of the world’s oil supply.
In a post on Truth Social ahead of the meeting, President Trump explicitly outlined his baseline conditions, writing that any acceptable deal must see the Strait of Hormuz reopened and require that Iran work with the U.S. to have its highly enriched uranium “DESTROYED.”
Following the Friday afternoon session, White House officials maintained a tight lid on the status of the talks. When pressed on whether a decision had been finalized, an official stated, “President Trump will only make a deal that is good for America and satisfies his redlines. Iran can never possess a nuclear weapon.”
The diplomatic push comes amid intense global economic pressure. On Friday, the leaders of the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the International Energy Agency (IEA) issued a rare joint warning regarding the prolonged closure of the shipping lane. The organizations reported that global oil inventories are being depleted at a record pace. They warned that if shipping flows do not return to normal before peak summer demand hits the Northern Hemisphere, it will present “increasing risks for fuel security, market conditions, and broader economic resilience,” while already driving up fertilizer and fuel costs globally.
Speaking from a conference with Indo-Pacific allies in Singapore on Saturday, War Secretary Pete Hegseth indicated that the administration feels the pressure is working. “Iran knows very, very clearly what our expectations are, and that’s on the negotiating team to deliver,” Hegseth said. “They’re coming in our direction. The talks have been productive.”
Hegseth noted that recent snags in the negotiations involve creating long-term guardrails to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon “as technology develops.” He emphasized that the U.S. intends to maintain its technological advantage, adding, “Any deal that the president is willing to make, he’s only going to make it if he believes it’s a great deal for our country and the security of the world.” Hegseth also reiterated that the U.S. military remains heavily postured and prepared to act if negotiations collapse. “We’re postured even stronger today than we were on day one to address it that way if we have to, but he’d prefer not to,” he said.
While Vice President JD Vance remarked on Thursday that the two sides were “not there yet” but “very close,” conflicting signals have emerged from Tehran. Iranian state media, quoting a source close to the country’s negotiating team, dismissed Western optimism later Thursday night, stating that no agreement had been “finalized nor confirmed” and calling alternative reports “incorrect.”
Compounding the diplomatic friction, the U.S. government on Friday leveled fresh sanctions against an Iranian firm, Sorena Hushmand Samaneh, alongside its leadership and several associates. The Treasury Department accused the network of impersonating small, U.S.-based information technology companies to illicitly buy millions of dollars in restricted American hardware and software for the Iranian armed forces.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent directly addressed the enforcement action in a statement, saying, “The Iranian military’s brazen efforts to target and deceive American businesses demonstrate just how far the regime is willing to go to support its malign activities. Treasury will continue to use all available authorities to cut off the Iranian regime’s access to the global financial system.”
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