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Will Trump greenlight a new Iran deal?

All eyes are on an agreement between the United States and Iran that would extend the current ceasefire and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, but it remains unclear when or whether President Trump and Tehran will ultimately sign it.

The two sides reached an interim agreement this week that, if ratified, would mark the biggest breakthrough towards a permanent peace deal since the conflict began 90 days ago.

Trump emerged from a two-hour meeting in the Situation Room on Friday with no update on the status of negotiations, although he promised earlier in the day that a “final decision” would be made.

Although U.S. and Iranian officials maintain that the exact terms of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) are still being negotiated, the agreement would generally extend the temporary ceasefire by 60 days, restart unrestricted navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, and open more negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program.

The flow of shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical energy corridor in the Gulf through which about one-fifth of the world’s oil supply passes daily, has been a central contention of the conflict.

Iran locked the strait as one of its first retaliatory actions in the war; imposed a de facto blockade enforced through a combination of military threats, naval mines, and toll demands. The United States has been enforcing its own naval blockade since mid-April in an attempt to put economic pressure on Iran by not allowing its oil out.

The standoff sent shockwaves through global supply chains, causing prices of goods such as oil and fertilizer to soar. The crackdown has caused problems for Trump and Republicans at home, where voters are increasingly worried about the state of the nation’s economy.

This week’s news of the diplomatic move sent oil prices plummeting to multi-week lows; International benchmark Brent crude oil traded around $91 a barrel on Saturday afternoon.

Kevin Hassett, director of the National Economic Council, will appear on ABC’s “This Week” and Fox News’ “Fox News Sunday” and will likely face questions about rising gas prices and falling consumer confidence.

The latest agreement envisages Tehran loosening its grip on the strait in exchange for the gradual lifting of the US blockade. This law would allow ships to pass through the strait unimpeded, include Iran’s commitment not to impose tolls, and require all remaining mines to be removed from the water within 30 days. According to Axios.

“This will be a free strait that the whole world can use, and that’s the way it should be,” Defense Minister Pete Hegseth told reporters in Singapore, where he attended the Shangri-La Dialogue security summit on Saturday.

Tensions in the Gulf have escalated again this week after hostilities escalated as the United States launched what it called “defensive strikes” in southern Iran and Tehran targeted Kuwait with ballistic missiles. Both sides later accused the other of violating the ceasefire.

US Central Command (Centcom) said on Monday that US strikes targeted missile launch sites and Iranian boats attempting to lay mines in the water. The attack led Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei to warn that regional allies “will no longer serve as a shield for American bases.”

A U.S. official told The Hill late Wednesday that U.S. forces intercepted and shot down four Iranian single-track strike aircraft and hit the ground control station in Bandar Abbas as it prepared to launch a fifth drone.

Kuwaiti forces also foiled a ballistic missile attack from Iran on Wednesday night, according to Centcom.

While the reported Memorandum of Understanding is expected to outline specific terms for reopening the strait and other conditions for ending the war, one issue that is not explicitly addressed is what will happen to Iran’s nuclear program and its stockpile of highly enriched uranium.

Advocates of the war, including Trump and his administration, have argued that the military operation was necessary to prevent Tehran from obtaining nuclear weapons.

It’s been a sticking point in long-stalled negotiations, and Vice President Vance told reporters Thursday that the sides are “still going back and forth” on the issue.

Trump said in a post on Truth Social on Monday that the “nuclear powder” could either be delivered to the United States or destroyed “somewhere else acceptable.”

Meanwhile, Iranian state media denied that the “nuclear issue” was part of the discussions. Iran International. The publication also noted that the Islamic Republic said the situation of billions of dollars in frozen assets must be addressed before reaching an agreement.

Appearing on Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Thursday that sanctions will not be eased “until the Iranians agree that they must surrender highly enriched uranium.”

The prospect of a deal has drawn mixed reactions from lawmakers since Trump announced last Saturday that the agreement was “substantially negotiated,” and Capitol Hill is likely to be full of questions about it when Congress returns from its Memorial Day recess next week.

The response from more hawkish Republicans like Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) has been lukewarm; Concerns have been expressed that any agreement that allows the current regime to remain intact and in control could undermine the successes of the US military operation.

Others, including Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), urged their colleagues to be patient and give the president time to iron out the details. Paul has been an outspoken critic of the war and has joined Democrats on several votes designed to block Trump’s ability to take further military action in Iran.

House Republicans abruptly canceled another vote on a Democratic-led war powers resolution before adjourning amid concerns about further possible defections in the GOP.

A $72 million compromise bill that would fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol through 2029 will also be watched closely as lawmakers return to Washington.

A planned vote on the measure was shelved late last week due to intense intraparty disagreement over the Trump administration’s proposal to create a $1.776 billion “anti-proliferation” fund for people who believe they were wronged by previous administrations.

The dispute centered around concerns that the fund could be used to compensate people who stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, including those convicted of violent crimes against police officers.

Meanwhile, the races for governor of California and the Texas Senate are heating up as the November midterm elections approach.

Democrat Xavier Becerra, who served as Health and Human Services secretary under former President Biden, currently leads the field for governor with 23 percent support heading into Tuesday’s primary, according to a poll released Wednesday by the Public Policy Institute of California. Republican and former Fox News commentator Steve Hilton was close behind with 20 percent support.

California uses a “jungle primary” system in which all candidates, regardless of party affiliation, compete on the same ballot. The top two vote-getters on Tuesday night will advance to the general election for a chance to replace term-limited Gov. Gavin Newsom (D).

In Texas, Trump proved again that he still wields enormous influence over the Republican Party after state Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) defeated incumbent Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) in the GOP primary runoff this week with a last-minute endorsement from Trump.

The result suggests what is expected to be a tough and expensive general election cycle between Paxton and Democratic candidate for state representative James Talarico.

The gloves quickly came off when Paxton called Talarico “a threat to everything we hold dear in this state and this country.” victory speech. Talarico responded. Interview on MS NOWHe says Paxton represents “extremism and that corruption.”

Democrats are cautiously optimistic about their chances in the deep-red state because of Paxton’s controversial record; Many view the attorney general as a weaker candidate than Cornyn.

The nonpartisan Cook Political Report shifted its rating on the race from “likely Republican” to “weakly Republican” following Paxton’s win.

See the full list of Sunday morning newscast guests below:

NewsNation’s “The Hill Sunday”: Rep. Rick Crawford (R-Ark.), Rep. Ami Bera (D-Calif.), Republican National Committee Chairman Joe Gruters, Democratic strategist Dan Kanninen

Fox News’ “Fox News Sunday”: National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett, Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.), Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.)

Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures”: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (right)

CNN’s “State of the Union”: Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, Sen. Andy Kim (DN.J.)

CBS News’ “Face the Nation” program: Former Vice President Mike Pence, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), World Food Program Executive Director Cindy McCain

ABC’s “This Week”: National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett, Sen. Cory Booker (DN.J.)

NBC News’ “Meet the Press” show: Former Vice President Mike Pence, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear (D)

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