{"id":1060,"date":"2026-05-24T20:39:43","date_gmt":"2026-05-24T20:39:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/arabnewsmonitor.com\/2026\/05\/24\/time-is-on-our-side-trump-tempers-expectations-of-a-peace-deal-with-iran\/"},"modified":"2026-05-24T20:39:43","modified_gmt":"2026-05-24T20:39:43","slug":"time-is-on-our-side-trump-tempers-expectations-of-a-peace-deal-with-iran","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.arabnewsmonitor.com\/?p=1060","title":{"rendered":"&#8216;Time is on our side&#8217;: Trump tempers expectations of a peace deal with Iran"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-tms-ad-status=\"idle\" data-tms-ad-container class=\"o-ad-container o-ad-container--banner-top o-ad-container--with-shimmer o-ad-container--with-background\">\n<div class=\"o-ad-container__content o-ad-container__content--report-enabled\">\n<div class=\"o-ad-container__label m-block-ad__label--report-enabled\">\n                    <span class=\"o-ad-container__label__text\">Advertising<\/span><br \/>\n                                            <button title=\"Report this ad\" class=\"o-ad-container__content__report-link\" data-tms-ad-report><br \/>\n                        <\/button>\n                                    <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"o-ad-sponsoring\" data-tms-ad-type=\"sponsoring\" data-tms-ad-status=\"disabled\">\n<div class=\"o-ad-sponsoring__wrapper\">\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"t-content t-content--article\" id=\"main-content\">\n<div class=\"t-content__above-sidebar\">\n<h1 class=\"t-content__title a-page-title\">&#8216;Time is on our side&#8217;: Trump tempers expectations of a peace deal with Iran<\/h1>\n<div class=\"m-master-tag\">\n<div class=\"a-tag-section\">\n                                    Middle East\n                            <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"t-content__chapo\">\n                                        US President Donald Trump on Sunday said that he had told diplomatic representatives not to &#8220;rush into a deal&#8221; with Tehran to end the US-Israeli war on Iran, walking back earlier signals of progress towards a peace agreement. The draft agreement would reportedly postpone talks over Iran&#8217;s nuclear programme, instead starting with reopening the crucial Strait of Hormuz.                <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"t-content__with-sidebar\">\n<div class=\"t-content__beside-sidebar\" data-article-content>\n<div class=\"t-content__metadata\">\n<div class=\"t-content__dates\">\n<p class=\"m-pub-dates\"><span class=\"m-pub-dates__date\">Issued on: <time datetime=\"2026-05-24T16:05:15+00:00\">24\/05\/2026 &#8211; 18:05<\/time><\/span><span class=\"m-pub-dates__date\">Modified: <time datetime=\"2026-05-24T19:52:57+00:00\">24\/05\/2026 &#8211; 21:52<\/time><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"a-reading-time\">\n    <span class=\"a-reading-time__icon\" title=\"Reading time\"><\/p>\n<p>    <\/span><br \/>\n    5 min    <span class=\"u-sr-only\">Reading time<\/span>\n<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"a-share-button\" data-root-share>\n<p>                            <span class=\"a-master-button__label\">Share<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"t-content__authors\">\n<div class=\"m-from-author\">\n                    <span class=\"m-from-author__by-label\"><br \/>\n                By:<br \/>\n            <\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"m-author\">\n<div class=\"m-author__name\">\n                                                    <a href=\"\/en\/author\/france-24\/\" title=\"FRANCE 24\" class=\"m-author__name__title\"><br \/>\n                                FRANCE 24<br \/>\n                            <\/a>\n                    <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"t-content__main-media\">\n<figure class=\"m-item-image m-item-image--16x9 m-item-image--has-caption\">\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"auto\" src=\"https:\/\/s.france24.com\/media\/display\/70998870-4b0a-11f1-aa42-005056a90284\/w:1024\/p:16x9\/AP26128622672159.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s.france24.com\/media\/display\/70998870-4b0a-11f1-aa42-005056a90284\/w:388\/p:16x9\/AP26128622672159.jpg 388w,https:\/\/s.france24.com\/media\/display\/70998870-4b0a-11f1-aa42-005056a90284\/w:720\/p:16x9\/AP26128622672159.jpg 720w,https:\/\/s.france24.com\/media\/display\/70998870-4b0a-11f1-aa42-005056a90284\/w:1024\/p:16x9\/AP26128622672159.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1076px) 100vw, 1012px\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" alt=\"US President Donald Trump speaks at a luncheon for mothers on Friday, May 8, 2026, in the Rose Garden of the White House\" loading=\"eager\" class=\"a-img \"><figcaption class=\"a-figcaption\">\n                <span>US President Donald Trump speaks at a luncheon for mothers on Friday, May 8, 2026, in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, DC.<\/span>                <span>\u00a9 Jacquelyn Martin, AP<\/span>            <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"t-content__body u-clearfix\">\n<p>US President <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">Donald Trump<\/a> tempered expectations of a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/middle-east\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">Middle East<\/a>\u00a0peace deal by saying on Sunday he had told his negotiators not to &#8220;rush&#8221;, even after both Tehran and Washington <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/middle-east\/20260523-iran-us-and-pakistan-report-progress-in-talks-on-ending-war\" target=\"_self\">signalled signs of progress<\/a> towards an agreement to end the war.<\/p>\n<p>The United States and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/iran\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">Iran<\/a> have observed a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/ceasefire\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">ceasefire<\/a> since April 8 while mediators push for a negotiated settlement, although Iran has imposed controls on Gulf shipping and the US has blockaded Iran&#8217;s ports.<\/p>\n<p>The war erupted after the United States and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/israel\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">Israel<\/a> attacked the Islamic Republic on February 28, and Iran responded with missile and drone attacks at countries across the region hosting <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/us-military\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">US military<\/a> assets.<\/p>\n<p>Iran&#8217;s Lebanese ally <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/hezbollah\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">Hezbollah<\/a> attacked Israel on March 2 after US-Israeli strikes killed Iran&#8217;s supreme leader.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I have informed my representatives not to rush into a deal in that time is on our side,&#8221; Trump said in a social media post Sunday.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The Blockade will remain in full force and effect until an agreement is reached, certified and signed,&#8221; he added.<\/p>\n<p class=\"a-read-more\"><span class=\"a-read-more__label\">Read more<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/middle-east\/20260524-middle-east-war-live-pakistan-offers-to-host-next-iran-us-peace-talks-very-soon\" target=\"_self\" class=\"a-read-more__link\">Middle East war live: Trump says US will not \u2018rush into a deal\u2019 to end Iran war<\/a><\/p>\n<p>There \u200cwas no immediate response from Iran&#8217;s government. But Tasnim news agency, which is linked to Iran&#8217;s Revolutionary Guards, said the US was still obstructing parts \u2060of a potential deal, including Tehran&#8217;s demand for the release of frozen funds.<\/p>\n<p>Earlier Trump had posted that the deal &#8220;has been largely negotiated, subject to finalisation between the United States of America, the Islamic Republic of Iran and the various other Countries&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p>A senior Trump administration official speaking on condition of anonymity told reporters that an agreement would not be signed on Sunday.<\/p>\n<p>Describing the rough outlines of the draft agreement, he said that Washington envisioned first re-opening the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/strait-of-hormuz\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">Strait of Hormuz<\/a> and lifting the US \u200bnaval blockade.<\/p>\n<p>That would &#8220;take that economic pressure out of the world economy, and then you negotiate the mechanism by which they will give up various parts of the nuclear programme, and yes, of course, we would contemplate some time limit,&#8221; the official said.<\/p>\n<p>Negotiating the details of the nuclear measures would take more time, he said.<\/p>\n<h2>Nuclear issue<\/h2>\n<p>US Secretary of State <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/marco-rubio\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">Marco Rubio<\/a>, meanwhile, told The New York Times that an agreement with Iran had garnered regional support but a nuclear deal couldn&#8217;t be achieved &#8220;in 72 hours on the back of a napkin&#8221;.<\/p>\n<div class=\"m-em-image\">\n<figure class=\"m-item-image m-item-image--original m-item-image--has-caption\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/s.france24.com\/media\/display\/e4fce2d8-57a4-11f1-9304-005056bf30b7\/w:980\/7af49363453e6edbec2df333c45b33d2cce13c37.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s.france24.com\/media\/display\/e4fce2d8-57a4-11f1-9304-005056bf30b7\/w:246\/7af49363453e6edbec2df333c45b33d2cce13c37.jpg 246w,https:\/\/s.france24.com\/media\/display\/e4fce2d8-57a4-11f1-9304-005056bf30b7\/w:388\/7af49363453e6edbec2df333c45b33d2cce13c37.jpg 388w,https:\/\/s.france24.com\/media\/display\/e4fce2d8-57a4-11f1-9304-005056bf30b7\/w:720\/7af49363453e6edbec2df333c45b33d2cce13c37.jpg 720w,https:\/\/s.france24.com\/media\/display\/e4fce2d8-57a4-11f1-9304-005056bf30b7\/w:980\/7af49363453e6edbec2df333c45b33d2cce13c37.jpg 980w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1023px) calc(100vw - 32px), (min-width: 1024px) 850px\" alt=\"In this handout picture provided by the Islamic Consultative Assembly News Agency (ICANA), Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf meets with Pakistan's army chief Syed Asim Munir in Tehran\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"a-img \"><figcaption class=\"a-figcaption\">\n                <span>In this handout picture provided by the Islamic Consultative Assembly News Agency (ICANA), Iran&#8217;s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf meets with Pakistan&#8217;s army chief Syed Asim Munir in Tehran on May 23, 2026.<\/span>                <span>\u00a9 &#8211; ICANA News Agency via AFP<\/span>            <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>&#8220;Right now, we have seven or eight countries in the region that are endorsing this approach, and we&#8217;re prepared to move forward on this approach,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n<p>Earlier Rubio had said a bargain could be struck to end the regional war as early as Sunday.<\/p>\n<p>He had said the agreement would start a &#8220;process that can ultimately leave us where the president wants us to be, and that is a world that no longer has to fear or worry about an Iranian nuclear weapon&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"a-read-more\"><span class=\"a-read-more__label\">Read more<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/middle-east\/20260331-how-trump-s-dream-of-seizing-enriched-uranium-from-iran-could-end-in-catastrophe\" target=\"_self\" class=\"a-read-more__link\">How Trump\u2019s dream of seizing enriched uranium from Iran could end in catastrophe<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Israeli Prime Minister <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/benjamin-netanyahu\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">Benjamin Netanyahu<\/a> said Sunday that he and Trump had agreed that &#8220;any final agreement with Iran must eliminate the nuclear threat entirely&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;President Trump made clear that he will remain steadfast in the negotiations regarding his longstanding demand for the dismantlement of Iran&#8217;s nuclear programme and the removal of all enriched <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/uranium\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">uranium<\/a> from Iranian territory, and that he will not sign a final agreement absent these conditions,&#8221; an Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP.<\/p>\n<h2>&#8216;Lasting peace&#8217;<\/h2>\n<p>Iranian officials confirmed the existence of a draft agreement, but stressed that \u2013 despite the long-standing US demand for an end to its uranium enrichment\u00a0\u2013 talks on the issue of Iran&#8217;s contested nuclear programme have been deferred for 60 days after any deal.<\/p>\n<p>President <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/masoud-pezeshkian\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">Masoud Pezeshkian<\/a> told state television Iran was &#8220;still prepared to assure the world that we are not seeking <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/nuclear-weapons\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">nuclear weapons<\/a>&#8220;, but it was unclear if this promise would be enshrined in the text of the deal.<\/p>\n<p>According to Iran&#8217;s Fars news agency, &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/sanctions\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">sanctions<\/a> on oil, gas, petrochemicals and their derivatives would be temporarily lifted during the negotiation period so that Iran can freely sell its products&#8221;.<\/p>\n<div class=\"m-em-image\">\n<figure class=\"m-item-image m-item-image--original m-item-image--has-caption\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/s.france24.com\/media\/display\/58cd1ee6-578a-11f1-9961-005056bf30b7\/w:980\/8432813f7039a7eed4651d6750680e1044c79bfb.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/s.france24.com\/media\/display\/58cd1ee6-578a-11f1-9961-005056bf30b7\/w:246\/8432813f7039a7eed4651d6750680e1044c79bfb.jpg 246w,https:\/\/s.france24.com\/media\/display\/58cd1ee6-578a-11f1-9961-005056bf30b7\/w:388\/8432813f7039a7eed4651d6750680e1044c79bfb.jpg 388w,https:\/\/s.france24.com\/media\/display\/58cd1ee6-578a-11f1-9961-005056bf30b7\/w:720\/8432813f7039a7eed4651d6750680e1044c79bfb.jpg 720w,https:\/\/s.france24.com\/media\/display\/58cd1ee6-578a-11f1-9961-005056bf30b7\/w:980\/8432813f7039a7eed4651d6750680e1044c79bfb.jpg 980w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1023px) calc(100vw - 32px), (min-width: 1024px) 850px\" alt=\"Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli strike that targeted the southern Lebanese village of al-Mahmoudiye on May 23\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"a-img \"><figcaption class=\"a-figcaption\">\n                <span>Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli strike that targeted the southern Lebanese village of al-Mahmoudiye on May 23.<\/span>                <span>AFP<\/span>            <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Leaders from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/saudi-arabia\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">Saudi Arabia<\/a>, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/united-arab-emirates\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">United Arab Emirates<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/qatar\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">Qatar<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/egypt\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">Egypt<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/jordan\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">Jordan<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/bahrain\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">Bahrain<\/a>, as well as representatives from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/turkey\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">Turkey<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/pakistan\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">Pakistan<\/a>, joined a call with Trump to discuss the deal on Saturday.<\/p>\n<p>Pakistan, which mediated historic face-to-face negotiations between US and Iranian delegations in April, hopes to host another round of talks &#8220;very soon&#8221;, Prime Minister <a href=\"https:\/\/www.france24.com\/en\/tag\/shehbaz-sharif\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"gtm-add-suggested-tag\">Shehbaz Sharif<\/a> said.<\/p>\n<p>He said Pakistan&#8217;s army chief Asim Munir, who visited Tehran on Friday and Saturday, also joined the call, which &#8220;provided a useful opportunity &#8230; to move the ongoing peace efforts forward to bring lasting peace in the region&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p>In a rare public appearance at the Grand Mosalla mosque in Tehran that was covered by state media, Ali Abdollahi, the head of Iran&#8217;s central military command, struck a defiant tone.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We are on a war footing and all our armed forces are fully ready, with all their resources and equipment, to confront any enemy,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n<p><em>(FRANCE 24 with AFP and Reuters)<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"o-sidebar\">\n<div class=\"o-sidebar__aside\">\n<div data-tms-ad-status=\"idle\" data-tms-ad-container class=\"o-ad-container o-ad-container--box o-ad-container--with-shimmer\">\n<div class=\"o-ad-container__content o-ad-container__content--report-enabled\">\n<div class=\"o-ad-container__label m-block-ad__label--report-enabled\">\n                    <span class=\"o-ad-container__label__text\">Advertising<\/span><br \/>\n                                            <button title=\"Report this ad\" class=\"o-ad-container__content__report-link\" data-tms-ad-report><br \/>\n                        <\/button>\n                                    <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"t-content__tags t-content__below-sidebar\">\n<div class=\"m-section-title m-section-title--small\">Keywords for this article<\/div>\n<ul class=\"m-tags-list\">\n<li class=\"m-tags-list__tag\">\n                <a href=\"\/en\/tag\/iran\/\" class=\"a-hot-tag\" title=\"Iran\">    Iran<\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<li class=\"m-tags-list__tag\">\n                <a href=\"\/en\/tag\/usa\/\" class=\"a-hot-tag\" title=\"USA\">    USA<\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<li class=\"m-tags-list__tag\">\n                <a href=\"\/en\/tag\/iran-conflict\/\" class=\"a-hot-tag\" title=\"Iran war\">    Iran war<\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<li class=\"m-tags-list__tag\">\n                <a href=\"\/en\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" class=\"a-hot-tag\" title=\"Donald Trump\">    Donald Trump<\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<li class=\"m-tags-list__tag\">\n                <a href=\"\/en\/tag\/marco-rubio\/\" class=\"a-hot-tag\" title=\"Marco Rubio\">    Marco Rubio<\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Advertising &#8216;Time is on our side&#8217;: Trump tempers expectations of a peace deal with Iran&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":1061,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1060","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-middle-east"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.arabnewsmonitor.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1060","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.arabnewsmonitor.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.arabnewsmonitor.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.arabnewsmonitor.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1060"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.arabnewsmonitor.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1060\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.arabnewsmonitor.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1061"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.arabnewsmonitor.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1060"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.arabnewsmonitor.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1060"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.arabnewsmonitor.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1060"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}