President Donald Trump claimed the next phase of negotiations with Iran would be “easier” than the initial round that led to the recently announced Memorandum of Understanding, as he met with G7 leaders at their annual summit in Évian-les-Bains, France, on June 16. Trump news focused on the Iran deal breakthrough, which was electronically signed and is set for formal signing on June 19 in Switzerland.
The agreement between the U.S. and Iran represents a framework to end more than three months of war. The initial phase, which Trump now says will be superseded by “easier” negotiations, included a Memorandum of Understanding that extends the ceasefire for 60 days and mandates the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, according to multiple sources including Reuters and NPR.
Trump met with French President Emmanuel Macron and other G7 leaders to discuss the implications of the deal. At the summit, Trump predicted “great things” would result from the agreement and said the Strait of Hormuz would be reopened, allowing global oil shipments to resume after months of blockade.
The second phase of talks will focus on detailed negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program and broader issues. According to CNN, reporting on May 23, 2026, the second phase was scheduled to last 30 to 60 days. However, former Iran deal negotiator Ari Afilalo told The Hill that “60 days is a pretty short period of time” for nuclear talks, noting that a comprehensive deal in that timeframe is unlikely.
The initial agreement includes provisions for the Strait of Hormuz to reopen immediately without tolls once the Memorandum of Understanding is signed in person, according to NBC News. Iran must also commit to disposing of highly enriched uranium, though the specifics of how Tehran would do so remained under negotiation.
Trump has said he will likely hold a press conference and read out the full text of the deal document to ensure accurate press coverage. The agreement was reached after months of indirect talks mediated by Pakistan and Oman, with the U.S. setting an initial 60-day deadline that passed before Israel launched strikes against Iran in May.
The G7 summit, running through June 17, has been dominated by discussion of the Iran deal, though some European allies have raised concerns about the terms. French President Macron said the pact was a “very important step for peace,” according to France 24, though France said it wanted to see the full deal text before committing to deploying naval assets to the Strait of Hormuz.
Sources
- CNN — Trump’s claim that the next phase of Iran talks will be “easier” than the first round; details on deal structure and second phase timeline
- Reuters — U.S. and Iran agreement to end war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz; formal signing date of June 19 in Switzerland
- NPR — Initial deal to end war and reopen Strait of Hormuz; ceasefire extension details
- NBC News — Strait of Hormuz reopening details and prewar shipping restoration timeline
- The Hill — Former negotiator commentary on 60-day timeline for nuclear talks being “pretty short”
- France 24 — French President Macron’s statement on the deal as a “very important step for peace”
