U.S., Iran close to a deal to end war, official says

Lindsey Graham turns heads with perplexing remark as Trump weighs peace deal

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) turned heads on Saturday after openly questioning why the U.S. war against Iran "started to begin with,” despite having personally lobbied for the United States to launch it.Graham’s remarks come amid reports that President Donald Trump – who Graham notably didn’t name in his comments – is “close to a deal to end the war” with Iranian officials, according to a claim from Axios’ Barak Ravid on Saturday. The prospect of a deal appeared to trouble Graham, however, at least without first crippling Iran's military capacity beyond the point of recovery.“This combination of Iran being perceived as having the ability to terrorize the Strait in perpetuity and the ability [to] inflict massive damage to Gulf oil infrastructure is a major shift of the balance of power in the region and over time will be a nightmare for Israel,” Graham wrote in a social media post on X.“Also, it makes one wonder why the war started to begin with if these perceptions are accurate. I personally am a skeptic of the idea that Iran cannot be denied the ability to terrorize the Strait and the region cannot protect itself against Iranian military capability.”Graham was widely mocked back in January after appearing “legitimately depressed” in the wake of Trump’s decision back in January to hold off on striking Iran. In March, it was revealed that Graham had “coached” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on how to convince Trump to bomb Iran.For Graham to now question why the war he lobbied to start was launched “to begin with” caused concern among some onlookers.“Reading Senator Graham's tweets is always really exciting because you really have no idea if you're getting utterly sycophantic sane washing of POTUS, or, entirely accurate and cogent geopolitical analysis,” wrote journalist Matt Gurney in a social media post on X to his more than 52,000 followers.Journalist Chuck Todd noted how Graham was “trying so hard not to use the word ‘Trump’” in his remarks, writing in a social media post on X to his nearly 2 million followers, and political commentator Tommy Vietor offered Graham some advice.“File this one under: things you should’ve thought through before starting the war,” Vietor wrote to his nearly 540,000 followers on X.Graham has long been among the most vocal advocates for a U.S. strike on Iran, consistent with his long record of backing military action against other nations throughout his career, including Iran, Iraq, Libya, Mexico, North Korea, Syria and Venezuela, among other nations.Reading Senator Graham's tweets is always really exciting because you really have no idea if you're getting utterly sycophantic sane washing of POTUS, or, entirely accurate and cogent geopolitical analysis. https://t.co/3w29R1Gtoq— Matt Gurney (@mattgurney) May 23, 2026

Rubio, in India, says Iran war will be solved ‘one way or the other’

Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Saturday said progress has been made in the ongoing peace negotiations between the U.S. and Iran, saying the war will be solved “one way or the other” amid a visit to India. “There’s been some progress made. Even as I speak to you now, there’s some work being done,”…

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A framework agreement to end the Iran war is being “fine-tuned,” according to a security official from Pakistan, who has been helping media negotiations between Iran and the US.

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U.S. and Iran officials signal progress in negotiations amid fragile ceasefire

Officials from the U.S. and Iran appear to be nearing a deal to end the ongoing conflict, according to public statements from officials from both nations Saturday

Pakistani field marshal in Tehran to try to seal U.S.-Iran deal

Pakistan's top military commander, Field Marshal Asim Munir, landed in Tehran on Friday as part of an effort to reach a deal under which the U.S. and Iran would agree to end the war and launch negotiations for a broader agreement, a Pakistani security source told Axios.Why it matters: Munir has been the lead mediator between the U.S. and Iran since the war began. The fact that he's in Tehran after several days of lower-level talks could signal a final push by Pakistan to try to get a deal, though U.S. and Iranian officials have cast doubt on the idea of an imminent agreement.The latest: Munir arrived in Tehran on Friday and was received by Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni, the Pakistani military said in a statement.A Qatari delegation also arrived in Tehran to support the mediation effort, Reuters first reported and a source familiar confirmed to Axios.A U.S. official briefed on the diplomatic efforts described the negotiations as "agonizing." The U.S. official said drafts are "going back and forth every day" without much progress.A spokesperson for Iran's foreign ministry said Friday that a deal was not close, but that negotiations are ongoing around ending the war and the Strait of Hormuz. "Issues related to the nuclear file are not supposed to be discussed in detail at this stage," he said.State of play: The mediators are trying to finalize a letter of intent that includes an agreement to end the war and principles for another 30 days of negotiations on a broader deal that would also address Iran's nuclear program. Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Turkey have all been involved in the mediation.It has remained unclear whether Iran would be willing to sign such a document at a time when some in Tehran appear to believe the leverage is on their side.A source close to Trump claimed Trump had grown increasingly frustrated over the past several days and has raised the possibility of a final major military operation, after which he could declare victory and end the war.The intrigue: On Friday afternoon, the White House announced a change to Trump's schedule for the weekend, after a planned speech in New York on Friday evening: Instead of staying in his Bedminster Golf Club, he will return to Washington.What they're saying: "There's been some slight progress. I don't want to exaggerate it, but there's been a little bit of movement, and that's good," Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Friday. He added that the fundamental U.S. demand is that "Iran can never have a nuclear weapon. It just cannot."Rubio said a deal would have to address Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium and its enrichment policy going forward.He also said Iran must not be allowed to set up "tolls" in the Strait of Hormuz, after Iran reiterated its intention to establish such a system on Thursday.Go deeper: Trump bleeds votes in Congress to keep Iran war goingThis story was updated to note Munir's arrival in Tehran.

Exclusive: Trump says he's "50/50" on Iran deal, decision by Sunday

President Trump told Axios on Saturday that he would be meeting with his negotiators later in the day to discuss Iran's latest offer, and would likely decide by Sunday whether to resume the war.The big picture: Trump said it was a "solid 50/50" as to whether he would be able to make a "good" deal or else "blow them to kingdom come."The latest: The president is expected to hold a conference call with Gulf leaders later today to discuss the situation with Iran, per two sources with knowledge of the plans.The leaders of Egypt, Pakistan and Turkey are currently expected to be among the participants. A senior Israeli official said that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his aides are in touch with the White House about the emerging deal.Friction point: Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) told Axios that some leaders in the region have urged President Trump to strike Iran to weaken the regime and get a deal on better terms.On the other hand, he said, other leaders in the region and some of the president's top advisers urged him to take the deal that is on the table.Those voices, he said, claimed the Strait of Hormuz can't be secure from Iranian influence and that if Iran is attacked it has the ability to destroy substantial Gulf oil operations."Count me as a strong skeptic that Iran can't be prevented from terrorizing the Strait of Hormuz and that we can't defend vital interests in the region after massive attacks against Iran — if they have been truly obliterated they shouldn't be able to do either," he said. "Time will tell. I am hoping for a good outcome still."The big picture: Trump told Axios he'd meet with Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner later on Saturday to discuss Iran's latest response. Vice President Vance is also expected to join.Pakistani Field Marshal Asim Munir, who has been mediating between the parties, left Tehran on Saturday after meeting top officials there and trying to push a deal across the line.A deal was not finalized but Pakistan said there was "encouraging progress toward a final understanding."The new draft that Trump intends to review on Saturday emerged from the Iran-Pakistan talks.The other side: Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson said Saturday that Iran and the U.S. were in the final stage of discussions on a memorandum of understanding to end the war. The spokesperson said the MOU would also deal with gradually reopening the Strait of Hormuz, lifting the U.S. blockade and releasing frozen Iranian funds. He added that a 30-60 day period of negotiations on a detailed agreement would follow.Zoom in: Trump said he would only take a deal that covers issues like uranium enrichment and the fate of Iran's existing stockpile.However, those issues are unlikely to be resolved in any detail under the MOU the U.S. and Iran are discussing to end the war and launch more in-depth negotiations.Regional mediators — Qatar, Egypt, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan — have been scrambling over the past 24 hours to bridge the gaps between the parties. They have held numerous calls with both Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Witkoff.State of play: "I think one of two things will happen: either I hit them harder than they have ever been hit, or we are going to sign a deal that is good," Trump said.He acknowledged that "some people would much rather have a deal and others would rather resume the war," but rejected the idea that Netanyahu was "worried" that he might make an unfavorable deal.Trump described Netanyahu as "torn." Israeli officials say the prime minister is highly concerned about the deal under discussion and has urged Trump to launch another round of strikes.What to watch: Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Saturday that there had been "some progress" in talks and "there might be some news later today." He said Iran can never have a nuclear weapon and must give up its enriched uranium, and the Strait of Hormuz needs to be fully reopened "without tolls." Up to now, the U.S. and Iranian positions on both the nuclear issue and the strait have been irreconcilable. Those issues might not be fully resolved even if a peace memo is signed. This is a developing story. Check back for updates.