War breaking news. Trump: 'Agreement or attack, decision by Sunday'

Iran:

Islamabad, 23 May (Adnkronos) - The US response to Iran's updated proposal is expected to arrive by tomorrow. Two Pakistani sources told Reuters, as reported by the Ynet website.

The tug-of-war between the US and Iran looks set to unblock soon, one way or another. All parties involved report progress after the mediators' visit to Tehran on Friday.

But for now the final sprint towards what should in any case only be a pre-agreement or memorandum of understanding, with the extension of the two-month truce, is missing.

Donald Trump will talk in the coming hours with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the deal that seems to be looming with Iran.

This is reported by Axios citing sources, according to which Trump in the last few hours has heard from the leaders of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Egypt, Turkey and Pakistan.

Emmanuel Macron spoke this afternoon with Gulf leaders and Donald Trump about the situation in the Middle East. This was learned by Bfm TV from the French president's entourage.
Of the Gulf leaders, the Elysée Palace points out that Macron spoke with the king of Jordan, the Emir of Qatar and the heir-prince to the throne of Saudi Arabia, Mohamed bin Salman.

He skips Donald Jr's wedding in the Bahamas, forgoes the weekend at his golf club in Bedminster, and remains barricaded in the White House fortress, asking his closest aides to cancel all commitments for the long Memorial Day weekend.

For Donald Trump it is certainly the longest weekend, the hour of the most difficult decision: make the deal with Iran or attack, fifty-fifty" of possibilities, he explains, surrounded by his loyalists as he tries to untangle the skein of the crisis. The weekend that could mark his presidency.

Washington Times: agreement to be announced by tomorrow afternoon

The US and Iran are expected to announce by tomorrow afternoon the finalisation of a peace agreement to end hostilities. A source close to the negotiations told the Washington Times.

Iran and the US are close to an agreement to end the war. Axios reports this, citing an American source, who says that the remaining differences concern the wording of several points.

The Premier and Foreign Minister of Qatar Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani held talks with the head of Saudi diplomacy Adel Bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir regarding the talks between Iran and the United States.

This was reported by broadcaster al-Jazeera. The two also discussed regional security and 'stressed the need for all parties to engage in the ongoing mediation efforts,' the Qatari Foreign Ministry said in a note.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened a meeting on security with the leaders of the coalition parties this evening. This was reported by the Ynet website.

The US and Iran are close to an agreement on a memorandum of understanding to end the war, according to two regional officials and a diplomat.

The statements were made on Saturday as the US is considering new attacks against Iran. Iran has indicated a "narrowing of differences" after talks with the Pakistani army chief in Tehran.

Some leaders in the Gulf region pressurised US President Donald Trump to conduct new air raids against Iran in order to weaken the regime and succeed in getting a deal on better terms.

The Axios website wrote this, quoting Republican Senator Lindsey Graham.

''Ignore Trump's posts''. This was the message that mediators sent to Iranian officials, suggesting that the real position of US President Donald Trump is actually different from the one shown on his Truth Social. This was reported by the Iranian news agency Fars, reporting that 'during the exchange of messages between Iran and the United States, several mediators, as well as American officials involved in the talks, sent a message to the Iranian side not to pay attention to the posts published by US President Donald Trump'.

According to reports, these officials 'emphasised that Trump's statements to the media are for domestic and media consumption only, and that his position at the negotiating table is completely different'.

According to Axios quoting Israeli officials, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is very concerned about the deal being negotiated between Tehran and Washington and has urged US President Donald Trump to launch another series of attacks against Iran.

A senior Israeli official reported that Netanyahu and his advisors are in contact with the White House about the agreement that is taking shape.

US President Donald Trump will today hold a telephone conversation - scheduled for 7pm Italian time - with the leaders of the mediating countries in the Iranian conflict: Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Turkey and Pakistan.

This was reported by the Reuters news agency, citing Arab government sources.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran remains open to a diplomatic solution in the ongoing conflict, while calling for "utmost caution" in negotiations with the US. "We remain ready for talks, but the experiences of past negotiations with the US dictate the utmost caution," he said during a meeting in Tehran with Pakistan's army chief, Asim Munir. According to Pezeshkian, Iran has a 'deep mistrust' of Washington due to 'repeated violations of agreements' and military attacks during previous negotiations. The Iranian president also warned that a resumption of the war would have global consequences. "The war has never benefited anyone and neither will the US emerge victorious from this conflict," he said, adding that both countries in the region and those outside would suffer "heavy losses". Pezeshkian finally reiterated that Iran would continue to defend its "legitimate rights".

The talks with Iran will fail unless the US shows flexibility. This was reported by a source close to the Iranian negotiating team quoted by the Fars news agency, close to the Pasdaran. The source said that Tehran would not discuss its nuclear programme at this stage and that any talks would be conditional on guarantees of trust that the US would be able to give. Fars reported that the release of Iranian funds is among the main conditions set by Tehran in the negotiations, while the rules for the passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz remain another point of contention. Although Washington has accepted some of Tehran's positions, the three issues remain unresolved and Iran is preparing other options, Fars reported quoting the source.

At least 3,123 people have died and 9,506 have been injured in Israeli attacks in Lebanon since 2 March, the Lebanese Ministry of Health has announced.

For Donald Trump, the chances of an attack or a deal on Iran are 'fify-fifty': the president himself told Axios, stressing that he will meet with senior advisers today to discuss the latest draft of the deal and will make a decision by tomorrow.

The Saudi-owned and Emirati-based broadcaster Al Arabiya reported, citing sources, that "Iran has offered to suspend uranium enrichment above 3.6% for 10 years and dilute uranium enriched above 20% within the country; to open the Strait of Hormuz and temporarily suspend tolls in exchange for compensation from Washington, demanding that the issue of sanctions and frozen funds be discussed before any agreement is signed." "Iran has proposed two paths for negotiations, starting with the announcement of the end of the war."

Iran said it had included the end of the US naval blockade and the provisions on the Strait of Hormuz in the draft agreement with the US discussed with Pakistan. This was reported by Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei, quoted by official media. "The issue of the Strait of Hormuz is among the topics covered in this 14-point memorandum of understanding, but even more important is the end of piracy carried out by the US against international shipping," Baghaei said.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said Tehran "will not discuss the nuclear programme at this stage", explaining that the priority is to focus on negotiations to end the conflict on all fronts, "including Lebanon". This was reported by the Iranian government news agency Irna. "We have decided to focus the negotiations on ending the war on all fronts," Baghaei added, pointing out that -we will not discuss the details of the nuclear issue at this stage. The spokesman finally stressed that 'whether we will enter the nuclear issue in 30 days or 60 days is a matter that will be addressed later'.

Mediators between Iran and the US believe they are close to an agreement to extend the ceasefire between the US and Iran by 60 days and to lay the groundwork for discussions on Iran's nuclear programme. The Financial Times reports that the deal includes a gradual reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and a commitment to discuss how to dilute or deliver Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium.

Hezbollah stated that a message from Tehran would confirm Iran's willingness not to abandon the Lebanese armed group. The movement's leader, Naim Qassem, reported receiving a communication from Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stating that Iran "will not give up its support to movements that demand justice and freedom, primarily Hezbollah". The communiqué also added that, in the latest Iranian proposal sent through Pakistani mediators to reach 'a permanent and stable end to the war', a request was also made to include Lebanon in a possible ceasefire.

'We are at the same time very close and very far from an agreement'. This was said by Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei, reported by Isna. "On the one hand, we have repeatedly witnessed contradictory rhetoric from the US side." On the other hand, he continued, "the current momentum of negotiations is leading to a reduction in differences. This does not mean that we have reached a full understanding on issues of such immense importance, but rather that we are moving towards a mutually acceptable solution based on a set of defined parameters'.

Iran and the US are working on 'finalising' a Memorandum of Understanding. This was stated by Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei, quoted by the Irna news agency. "The positions have come closer over the past week," Baghaei said, "We have to wait and see what will happen in the next three or four days.

There is ''a possibility'' that Iran will accept the agreement with the United States as early as today. This was stated by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on a visit to New Delhi, acknowledging that there has been ''slight progress'', thanks in part to Pakistan's mediation.

"The United States of the Middle East?" This is the question raised by Donald Trump on Truth Social, where the US president posted an image of a map of the region in which Iran appears entirely coloured in stars and stripes. The post is part of a series of ironic and provocative content circulated in the early hours of the American morning. Other postings include a photo in which Trump is greeted festively in Beijing, accompanied by the words 'China loves Trump', and another in which his giant face emerges behind the mountains of Greenland as he greets with the phrase: 'Hello, Greenland'.

L'immagine, generata con l'intelligenza artificiale, che Donald Trump ha pubblicato sul suo social Truth: il suo volto dietro le montagne della Groenlandia con la scritta: 'Hello, Greenland'. TRUTH / DONALD J. TRUMP

A member of the Iranian National Security Committee, in an interview with the Isna news agency, commented on the visit of the Chief of Staff of the Pakistan Army Asim Munir, saying that he 'feels we are getting closer to a final agreement, but that difficulties remain'. According to Munir, 'Iran and Pakistan have recognised that the difficulties come from the US. More in-depth negotiations between the two sides will take place this evening. This meeting can be seen as positive, but some of the recent positions of the Americans cause concern'.

Una foto fornita dall'ufficio del Ministero degli Esteri iraniano mostra il ministro degli Esteri iraniano Abbas Araghchi (a destra) mentre incontra il capo di Stato Maggiore dell'Esercito pakistano, il feldmaresciallo Asim Munir, a Teheran, in Iran, il 23 maggio 2026. Munir è giunto a Teheran per colloqui con funzionari iraniani nell'ambito dei continui sforzi di mediazione volti a porre fine al conflitto tra Stati Uniti e Iran. EPA/MINISTERO DEGLI ESTERI IRANIANO

In addition to the knots of sanctions and the nuclear issue, the talks in Tehran with Pakistani and Qatari officials to reach a ceasefire must also unravel a third one: that of frozen Iranian assets. Al Jazeera writes this. Although the exact amount of frozen Iranian assets is unclear, official Iranian sources and experts estimate that the total value of Iranian assets frozen abroad exceeds $100 billion. Frederic Schneider, a senior non-resident researcher at the Middle East Council on Global Affairs, told Al Jazeera that these assets represent about three times Iran's annual revenues from the sale of hydrocarbons. The exact amount currently held by each country is also unclear, but Iranian media have reported in the past that Japan, a major oil customer of Iran, holds about $1.5 billion, Iraq about $6 billion, China at least $20 billion, and India $7 billion. The US also holds about $2 billion in directly frozen Iranian assets, while EU countries such as Luxembourg hold about $1.6 billion. Qatar holds about $6 billion, which is the amount transferred from South Korea to pay Iran, but subsequently frozen by the US.

The US Armed Forces Central Command (Centcom) announced that it had reached the 'milestone' of more than 100 commercial ships 'hijacked' as part of the naval blockade imposed against Iran. The Command explained on X that the operation, launched on 13 April on the orders of President Donald Trump, involves over 15,000 military personnel including the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines. Ships in transit have been redirected, while only 26 humanitarian vessels have been allowed to continue. Centcom also reports that during the six-week operation, four ships have been 'disabled' and that the blockade has effectively eliminated commercial traffic to and from Iranian ports, with the stated aim of increasing economic pressure on Tehran. The operation is supported by over 200 aircraft and naval units, including aircraft carriers and amphibious groups deployed in the area. Centcom commander Admiral Brad Cooper described the action as 'highly effective' and conducted with 'precision and professionalism'.

Further reading

Oil and gas, why Trump's naval blockade of Iran is a risk

14 April 2026

Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff, Asim Munir, left Tehran after his second meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. This was reported by the Iranian media. Munir had arrived in the Iranian capital yesterday with the aim of injecting significant momentum into negotiations to reach an agreement between Iran and the US. In Tehran, the Pakistani army chief held a series of meetings aimed at preventing the resumption of fighting between the US and Iran.

Further reading

War in Iran, Gulf diplomacy? Dictated by frustration

20 May 2026

Qatar's Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani had a telephone conversation with US President Donald Trump to 'discuss efforts to consolidate the ongoing truce in the Middle East and reduce escalation'. This was reported by the Qatari premier's office, adding that Al Thani reiterated Doha's support for Pakistan's diplomatic efforts in the context of the US-Iran negotiations. A Qatari delegation arrived in Tehran yesterday to meet with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, after Trump said last week that he had desisted from attacking Iran again at the request of several Gulf leaders, including Al Thani.

FOTO D'ARCHIVIO: Le bandiere degli Stati Uniti e del Qatar sventolano su un lampione in vista dell'arrivo del presidente degli Stati Uniti Donald Trump a Doha, in Qatar, il 13 maggio 2025. REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa/Foto d'archivio

The Israeli army announced the imminent launch of attacks against several villages in southern Lebanon, located north of the Litani river, and urged residents to evacuate immediately. In an 'urgent warning' posted on social media, Colonel Avichay Adraee, an Arabic-language spokesman for the Israeli army, called on the residents of a dozen villages near the towns of Nabatieh and Marjayoun to evacuate 'for their safety' in anticipation of attacks on Hezbollah. Hezbollah and the Israeli army accuse each other of daily violations of the ceasefire that came into effect on 17 April. Israel demands that the area south of the Litani river be cleared of Hezbollah fighters.

Further reading

The Litani River between Lebanon and Israel: strategic focus of the conflict with Hezbollah

24 March 2026

Among the military options Donald Trump is considering is a direct attack to destroy Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium located underground at a nuclear site in Isfahan. The New York Times reports that a massive bombing campaign along the Strait of Hormuz to loosen Iran's grip could also be under consideration. Trump could also opt to strike Iran's energy sector, an idea that has been severely criticised in the past as it could represent a war crime.

Iran's chief negotiator, Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf, told the Pakistani army chief, Asim Munir, that Tehran's armed forces had 'rebuilt' their capabilities during the ceasefire and warned that, 'if the US foolishly restarts the war', the 'consequences will be more devastating and bitter'. This was reported in the Iranian media. Ghalibaf also stated that the Islamic Republic 'will not compromise' on what he called 'the rights of the nation and the Iranian state'.

Iran scaled back hopes of an imminent deal after Iran's chief negotiator and parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Pakistani army chief Asim Munir met today in Tehran, acting as mediator in diplomatic efforts to reach an agreement between Tehran and Washington. "This is a continuation of the diplomatic process. We cannot necessarily say that this means we have reached a turning point or a decisive situation," Baghaei warned. According to the spokesman, differences remain "deep" and "important issues" remain unresolved: the end of the war on all fronts, including Lebanon, the situation in the Strait of Hormuz and the US blockade of Iranian ports, he listed, quoted by the Isna news agency. At this stage, he stressed, the nuclear issue, where the gap between the two sides is equally significant, is not being addressed.

Iran's chief negotiator and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf met with Pakistani army chief Asim Munir in Tehran as part of ongoing diplomatic efforts to ease regional tensions, according to Iranian state media reports. During his visit to Iran, Munir also met with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, in the presence of Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi.

"A senior Iranian source told Al Arabiya that what Iran has proposed so far is unacceptable to the United States." This was reported in a post on X by the Saudi-owned broadcaster based in Dubai, in the Emirates.

Negotiations between Washington and Tehran "will be able to move forward" in the event that "Iran succeeds in achieving a true ceasefire in Lebanon and an end to the war on all fronts": this is the view expressed by Iranian observer Foad Izadi, an associate professor at the University of Tehran, in an interview with Al Jazeera. "Lebanon is the key," Izadi added, pointing out that at the moment there is a truce between Israel and Hezbollah in the country "only on paper" and that reaching an end to this conflict would be "the test to see" whether US President Donald Trump "can finally have an independent foreign policy". Indeed, the Iranian academic points out that "the general consensus in Tehran is that this is the war" of Israeli PM Netanyahu and that the latter "has managed to drag the US president along with him". According to Izadi himself, the Iranian leadership would be willing to "accept concessions" on its nuclear programme, but with one condition: that these concessions be "accompanied by an easing of the sanctions in force and the release of frozen Iranian assets

Israel was not involved in any way in the discussions leading up to the ceasefire and learned of developments in the US-Iran talks through regional diplomatic contacts and surveillance activities, writes the New York Times citing Israeli officials on condition of anonymity.

The article notes that in the run-up to the start of the war against the Iranian regime earlier this year, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was in close coordination with Trump and led a discussion in the Situation Room in Washington.

"For the time being, companies have been bearing the costs" arising from the increase in energy and some commodity prices caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, but "if the situation does not settle down quickly, this will lead to more inflation, falling margins for businesses, falling investment and falling consumption. The reality is that if everything is not resolved soon the real impact will be seen in the coming months'. This was emphasised at the Trento Festival of Economics by Emma Marcegaglia, president and CEO of Marcegaglia Holding.

'Businesses,' he added, 'have held up for now, but we have to realise that there is a limit, also because the economy is not particularly strong.

The broadcaster Cbs cites well-informed sources that the Trump administration is preparing a new round of military strikes against Iran but points out that, as of Friday afternoon local time, no final decision had yet been made. Cbs recalls that the US president, Donald Trump, made it known in a post on Truth that he would not be attending his son's wedding over the weekend and justified the decision by referring to 'government-related circumstances'. Trump had planned to spend the Memorial Day weekend at his golf estate in New Jersey, but will return to the White House. According to CBS, some members of the US military and intelligence community have cancelled their Memorial Day weekend plans in anticipation of possible attacks.

Iran accuses the United States of making 'excessive demands' in the negotiations. The Iranian news agency Tasnim, linked to the Pasdaran, reports that in a telephone conversation with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that Tehran is committed to the current diplomatic process "with seriousness and a sense of responsibility" but that "the history of the United States characterised by its failure to honour commitments, repeated betrayals of diplomacy, military aggression against Iran, contradictory positions and excessive demands undermines the Pakistan-mediated talks". "Iran, despite its strong suspicions of Washington, is committed to the diplomatic path with the utmost seriousness and responsibility in pursuit of a reasonable and just outcome," Araghchi told Guterres. In the phone call, Tasnim reports, the latest developments in the region and those related to diplomacy between Iran and the US, mediated by Pakistan, were discussed and there was an exchange of views.

According to Axios, which quotes a source close to Donald Trump, the US president has spoken of launching a final, major and 'decisive' military operation, after which he could declare victory and end the war.

A hypothesis also reported by CBS in the previous hours. Although 'no final decision has been made', the Trump administration is reportedly preparing for a new series of attacks against Iran, the American broadcaster reported, according to which several armed forces and intelligence chiefs had cancelled their plans for the weekend on the chance that a new military offensive would be decided.

"We cannot necessarily say that we have reached a point where an agreement" with the US "is imminent". This was stated by Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei, quoted by Iran International, explaining that although exchanges with Pakistan's chief negotiator Asim Munir have become more frequent "they represent the continuation of the same diplomatic process".

Donald Trump had a meeting this morning with his national security advisers on Iran. Axios reports this, citing sources who say the president is seriously considering attacking Iran unless there is a last-minute breakthrough in negotiations. On Thursday evening, the president appeared more inclined to attack, although he has not yet made a final decision on whether to resume the war.

The Trump administration is preparing for a new series of attacks against Iran. Preparations are underway even though Donald Trump has not yet made a final decision. Cbs reports this, citing sources who say that several military and intelligence officials have cancelled their plans for the weekend on the chance that attacks will be decided.

Donald Trump has been presented with options for resuming the war in Iran. Cnn reports this, citing sources.