Donald Trump said the US is close to signing a deal with Iran to wind down the war, with a memorandum of understanding to be signed in the coming days but there remains plenty of uncertainty over what will happen.
But some of the key objectives Trump laid out for the conflict seem to remain unfulfilled. And while the Trump administration has said its objectives are clear and unchanging, the list has expanded and shifted as the president and his administration have spoken about the war since it started February 28.
All the while, the conflict has battered the global economy, tested alliances and raised unanswered questions about the planning for the conflict, its justification and its aftermath.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the US and Iran have reached a “final, agreed upon text”. He said: “Peace has never been this close as it is now.”
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Friday an agreement “has never been closer” in a post on X, which was also shared by Trump.
But at the same time no details have been shared and Trump has said multiple times in recent weeks the countries are on the cusp of a deal.
By most accounts, the strikes by the US and Israel have significantly degraded Iran’s military capabilities and killed scores of senior leaders. But those tactical successes don’t necessarily translate into achieving all the president’s aims.
And Iranian officials said nuclear details will follow an agreement to end the war despite this having been set out by the US President as his main reason for the conflict.
