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By Song Sang-ho
WASHINGTON, May 6 (Yonhap) — U.S. President Donald Trump raised the possibility Wednesday that a peace agreement with Iran could be reached before his trip to China next week, as Washington and Tehran are reportedly working on a one-page memorandum to end their war and set a framework for detailed nuclear negotiations.
Trump said in a phone interview with PBS News that the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran has a “very good chance of ending,” as he is preparing for a high-stakes summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping set to take place in Beijing on May 14 and 15.
Axios reported earlier in the day that Washington thinks it is getting close to an agreement with Tehran on a 14-point memorandum of understanding (MOU) that would declare an end to their war and the start of 30 days of negotiations on a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, limit Iran’s nuclear program and lift U.S. sanctions.
“It’s possible, yeah,” Trump told PBS News, responding to a question about whether he thinks negotiations will be concluded before he leaves for China.
This photo, released by Reuters, shows U.S. President Donald Trump speaking during an event to sign a memorandum in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington on May 5, 2026. (Yonhap)
He struck a sanguine note when asked whether the U.S. is closing in on a deal with Iran to end the war.
“Yeah, I think so, but I felt that way before with them, so we’ll see what happens,” he said. “I think we’ll have a very good chance of making a deal again. If we don’t, we’ll go back to our old ways.”
The president touched on what’s being negotiated in talks with Iran.
Asked if a deal with Iran would include Tehran exporting its highly enriched uranium to the U.S., Trump said, “No, not perhaps. It goes to the United States.”
He confirmed that as part of a deal with the U.S., Iran would pledge not to operate its underground nuclear facilities.
He rejected the idea that Iran would be allowed to enrich uranium to 3.67 percent.
“No, it’s not part of the deal,” he said.
He said that it is “unlikely” that he would send Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner for talks with Iran.
“I think we can do it here, and maybe for the final meeting, we’ll have a signing someplace,” he said.
Asked if the Iran issue will be raised during his upcoming meeting with Xi, Trump said that if a deal is reached, there will be “not much to bring up.”
“I think it’s got a very good chance of ending, and if it doesn’t end, we have to go back to bombing the hell out of them. Very simple,” he said.
During a press availability at the White House, Trump again expressed optimism that the U.S. and Iran could strike a deal.
“We’ve had very good talks (with Iran) over the last 24 hours, and it’s very possible that we’ll make a deal,” he said, repeating that Iran wants to reach a deal “badly.”
He also reiterated that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon.
“They won’t. They have agreed to that among other things.”
Regarding the MOU that the U.S. and Iran are working on, Axios reported that it is being negotiated between Witkoff, Kushner and several Iranian officials, both directly and indirectly.
During the 30-day negotiation period under the MOU, Iran’s restrictions on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and the U.S. naval blockade would be gradually lifted, Axios said, citing a U.S. official.
This file photo, released by AFP, shows cargo ships and tankers off the coastal city of Fujairah near the Strait of Hormuz on February 25, 2026. (Yonhap)
In a social media post earlier in the day, Trump ratcheted up pressure on Iran to reach a deal to end hostilities.
“If they don’t agree, the bombing starts, and it will be, sadly, at a much higher level and intensity than it was before,” he wrote on Truth Social.
Trump also said: “Assuming Iran agrees to give what has been agreed to, which is, perhaps, a big assumption, 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 was referring to the military campaign against Iran, codenamed Operation Epic Fury, which began in late February.
In a press conference Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the military campaign was “concluded,” noting that the U.S. had achieved the objective of the operation.
Also on Tuesday, Trump said the U.S.’ “Project Freedom” mission will be paused for a “short period of time,” claiming that “great” progress has been made toward a “complete and final” agreement with representatives of Iran.
The operation began on Monday to guide commercial vessels, trapped in the Persian Gulf due to the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran, through the Strait of Hormuz.
Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Dan Caine said earlier this week that there are currently about 22,500 mariners embarked on more than 1,550 commercial vessels trapped in the Persian Gulf due to Iran’s attacks across the region.
sshluck@yna.co.kr
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