WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said the United States and Iran could reach an agreement within the next week to extend the current ceasefire and establish arrangements for reopening the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.
In a telephone interview with ABC News, Trump described ongoing diplomatic efforts as “looking good,” while acknowledging that disagreements remained. He said a “little glitch” had emerged during negotiations but claimed he intervened to prevent the dispute from derailing broader talks.
Trump linked the latest complications to renewed tensions involving Israel, Lebanon and Hezbollah. He said he had spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and worked to discourage further escalation, while claiming that Hezbollah had agreed to halt attacks against Israel.
The president portrayed diplomacy as a potentially more effective path than continued military confrontation.
“A peace agreement with Iran could be even better than a military victory,” Trump said, emphasizing his preference for a negotiated outcome despite the longstanding hostility between Washington and Tehran.
Talks Face Significant Challenges
Trump acknowledged that reaching a comprehensive agreement would not be easy. The two governments remain divided over Iran’s nuclear program, regional influence and broader security issues, while decades of mistrust continue to complicate negotiations.
Despite those obstacles, Trump expressed confidence that progress could come quickly. Asked about a potential agreement involving the Strait of Hormuz, he suggested that a deal could be reached within roughly a week, although he acknowledged that several issues remained unresolved.
“I still have to get a few more points,” Trump said.
The comments came amid uncertainty over the status of communications between Washington and Tehran. Reports that Iran had suspended some discussions following Israeli military activity in Lebanon had raised concerns that the diplomatic process could be breaking down.
Trump, however, has insisted that negotiations remain active and that efforts to reach an agreement are continuing.
Iran has not publicly confirmed all of Trump’s descriptions of the talks, leaving questions about the precise status of negotiations and whether both governments share Washington’s assessment of the progress being made.
Strait of Hormuz Remains Central
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical component of the negotiations. The narrow waterway connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and serves as a major route for international energy shipments.
Any prolonged disruption could affect global oil supplies, energy prices, shipping and international trade, making the issue significant well beyond the immediate U.S.-Iran confrontation.
For now, Trump is signaling optimism, but major questions remain unanswered. Whether the current ceasefire can develop into a broader and lasting diplomatic agreement may depend on the next several days of negotiations.
The coming week could therefore prove decisive—either opening a path toward de-escalation and restored stability around the Strait of Hormuz, or exposing once again how fragile the current pause in hostilities remains.
