President Trump said Thursday that a "great settlement of the war with Iran" was on the horizon, hours after threatening to strike the country "VERY HARD" and take over Kharg Island before changing course. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced Friday that an agreement between the two sides "has never been closer," with Pakistan serving as lead mediator confirming it was working with both parties to finalize a "final, agreed upon text."
Trump has made similar assertions about an imminent deal at least three dozen times throughout the conflict by CNN's count. A White House official told NewsNation that a deal was 75 percent of the way there but nothing had been set in stone. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif wrote on X: "Peace has never been this close as it is now."
What the Left Is Saying
Senate Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who will appear on NBC's "Meet the Press" Sunday, has not publicly commented on the specific deal terms but Democrats have generally signaled openness to diplomatic solutions while emphasizing verification requirements. Democratic senators including Jack Reed of Rhode Island and Mark Warner of Virginia are scheduled to discuss the situation on Sunday shows this weekend.
Progressive lawmakers have historically supported the Iran nuclear agreement negotiated during the Obama administration, which Trump withdrew from during his first term. Many Democrats argue that diplomacy, when properly verified, remains preferable to continued military conflict. Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona, set to appear on CBS's "Face the Nation," is expected to address the framework.
What the Right Is Saying
Hawkish Republicans have expressed concern about the deal described in Iranian leaks. Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina argued that terms reportedly discussed with Tehran "would be awful" and said Trump must maintain a "red line" against nuclear enrichment. The senator is not scheduled to appear on Sunday shows this weekend but has been vocal on social media.
Vice President JD Vance wrote on X that no cash would flow until Iran meets its obligations: "First, the Iranians are not receiving any cash, and no funds are being released for simply signing a deal or attending a meeting." Trump dismissed reports about financial benefits to Iran as "fake" in posts on his social media platform.
What the Numbers Show
The 14-point framework under discussion includes several key provisions. A senior U.S. official said Iran's highly enriched uranium would be destroyed under the agreement, with Tehran committing not to pursue a nuclear weapon. The deal would have Iran fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 30 days without imposing tolls on passing vessels, in exchange for lifting the U.S. naval blockade on Iranian ports.
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical maritime chokepoint through which approximately one-fifth of the world's oil flows during peacetime. Trump claimed Saturday that the agreement would be signed Sunday, falling on his 80th birthday. However, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei disputed that timeline, saying no specific signing date had been agreed upon.
U.S. forces conducted "self-defense" strikes this week after the Iranian military downed an Army helicopter, with both crew members rescued and in stable condition. CENTCOM also reported shooting down Iranian one-way attack drones targeting ships attempting to transit the strait.
The Bottom Line
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is set to discuss the war and potential deal on CBS's "Face the Nation" Sunday morning. U.N. Ambassador Mike Waltz will appear on ABC's "This Week" and Fox News, while DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin is scheduled for CNN's "State of the Union."
The framework remains fragile amid conflicting reports about its terms and timing. Whether Trump secures a verifiable agreement that addresses Republican concerns about nuclear enrichment or whether this represents another in a long line of premature announcements will become clearer in the coming days. Technical-level talks are expected to follow any signing, with verification protocols remaining a central point of negotiation.