US officials negotiate memorandum of understanding with Iran as Trump renews bombing threats, while Tehran considers the proposal through Pakistani mediators.
7:07 PM
The United States and Iran are pursuing a diplomatic solution to end the war that began February 28, 2026, according to statements from US officials and Iranian representatives on May 6.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said at a White House briefing that Washington is working intensively to find a diplomatic resolution. He stated that President's Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the US president's son-in-law, are involved in the negotiations. Rubio said Washington expects to reach an agreement with Iran on a memorandum of understanding.
"The operation Epic Fury is concluded. We achieved the objectives of that operation. We're not cheering for an additional situation to occur. We would prefer the path of peace," Rubio said, referring to the joint US-Israel military operation against Iran.
A one-page, 14-point memorandum of understanding is under discussion, according to sources familiar with the proposal who spoke to CNN, Axios, and The New York Times. The memo would end the war while creating a 30-day negotiation period on resolving outstanding issues.
President Donald Trump said on Truth Social Wednesday morning that if Iran agrees to terms already discussed, "the already legendary Epic Fury will be at an end, and the highly effective Blockade will allow the Hormuz Strait to be OPEN TO ALL, including Iran." He added a threat: "If they don't agree, the bombing starts, and it will be, sadly, at a much higher level and intensity than it was before." Trump did not specify what he meant by "what has been agreed to."
Trump also stated that the US has had "very good talks with Iran in the last 24 hours" and that a deal is possible.
Iran's response remained cautious. A senior member of Iran's parliament dismissed the proposal as a "wish list." Esmail Baghaei, a foreign ministry spokesman, said Iran would share its views of the US proposal with Pakistani mediators. Pakistan's foreign minister said his country was "endeavouring to convert this ceasefire into a permanent end to this war."
A discrepancy emerged between statements from US officials. On Tuesday, Rubio said the war was "over," but Trump's Wednesday statement suggested negotiations were still ongoing and conditional on Iranian compliance with unspecified demands.
Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi met with ambassadors in Tehran on Saturday to present Iran's latest peace initiative.
The United States and Iran confronted each other Monday as 191 parties began reviewing the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, with Iran's election as vice president sparking dispute.
President Trump canceled plans to send envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Islamabad for ceasefire negotiations with Iran, citing wasted time and internal Iranian confusion.
President Trump extended a temporary truce with Iran pending submission of a unified proposal, while keeping U.S. military blockade in place.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told CNN that peace efforts on Ukraine cannot wait for the Iran conflict to end, citing distraction from Russian aggression.
