The United States and Iran are nearing an agreement. What the media is writing

US President Donald Trump said that Iran had accepted some of the proposals to resolve the conflict, and predicted its imminent end. At the same time, he threatened new bombardments in the event of a breakdown of the agreement. Tehran noted that it is still studying the received proposal and, if agreed, will send a response through Pakistan. How the world's media react to the latest attempts by the parties to reach an agreement is in the Izvestia digest.

Bloomberg: The United States and Iran are considering the possibility of concluding a deal

The United States has submitted a one-page memorandum of understanding that provides for the gradual opening of the Strait of Hormuz and the lifting of the American blockade of Iranian ports, a source familiar with the situation said. Detailed negotiations on the Iranian nuclear program will take place later, he added, noting that nothing has been agreed yet. This proposal was the culmination of a chaotic 48 hours, illustrating the predicament that US President Donald Trump finds himself in, trying to resolve the energy crisis that he himself created by attacking Iran along with Israel at the end of February.

Iran is expected to send a response through Pakistan, acting as an intermediary, within the next two days. State media have made it clear that some provisions of the US proposal remain unrealistic for the Iranian leadership. In Israel, the proposed deal has raised concerns, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government has vowed to keep up pressure on Iran until it is completely defeated and its nuclear, missile, and paramilitary programs are eliminated.

The Washington Post: Trump threatens Iran with intense bombing

The day after announcing the suspension of a new military operation to clear the way for commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, halting the barely begun mission, Trump threatened that if Iran did not agree to his latest peace plan, the US bombing would resume "at a much higher level." Trump said Iran has already accepted at least part of the U.S. offer, expressing optimism, as he has done several times in recent weeks, about reaching an agreement soon.

Earlier, Tehran rejected US claims that it had already agreed to concessions regarding the dismantling and future restrictions of its nuclear program. He said his proposal only applies to the Strait of Hormuz, where more than 1,500 commercial vessels are still waiting to pass through the crucial waterway closed by Iran. The Pakistani official urged caution, saying the issues were "complex." He said the two sides were discussing a deal that would include lifting the U.S. blockade in exchange for suspending Iran's uranium enrichment and easing Iranian restrictions on passage through the strait.

Reuters: Trump expects an early end to the war

Trump predicted an early end to the war with Iran, but the two sides still disagree on a number of difficult issues, such as Iran's nuclear ambitions and its control over the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world's oil and gas supplies passed before the war.

Another senior Pakistani official involved in the negotiations said that the parliamentarians hope to reach an agreement, but noted that differences remain between the parties. Reports of a possible agreement led to a drop in global oil prices to two-week lows, with Brent crude futures falling about 11% to around $98 per barrel before rising back above the $100 mark.

Associated Press: The Trump administration is spreading confusion by trying to open the Strait of Hormuz

The Trump administration's approach to the war with Iran has undergone dramatic changes over the past 24 hours, from statements about maintaining a fragile truce and ending military operations to new threats of bombing the Islamic Republic. It began with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth explaining how the U.S. military protects stranded ships so they can pass through the Strait of Hormuz. He insisted that it was a defensive operation and the truce was still in effect, despite the fact that Iran had fired missiles and drones at American forces, resulting in the sinking of Tehran's small combat boats.

The Trump administration's shifting and often contradictory rhetoric throughout the war with Iran has added to the confusion this week, as the president and his aides presented a dizzying version of the U.S. strategy to unblock the Strait of Hormuz and end the war, which changed dramatically in just a few hours. One of its key allies, Saudi Arabia, is skeptical of Trump's plan to get stranded ships out of the strait. The Saudis have made it clear that they do not consider the White House's plan to be a viable way to open the strait and build confidence among ship operators and insurers who are looking for a long-term solution to the US-Iranian standoff over the waterway.

Shock without trepidation: how much did Operation Epic Fury cost America

Washington is curtailing the active phase of the operation against Iran, having failed to achieve regime change and faced with a shortage of missiles.

Politico: Trump's ego may be an obstacle on the way to concluding a deal with Iran

Trump's constant insults of Iranian leaders are alarming to some Arab and American officials familiar with the situation in the Middle East. They fear that such attacks could become a serious obstacle to a real end to the war. At the heart of their concern is whether Trump is willing to show enough respect for Tehran's Islamist leaders to allow them to claim any kind of victory, even if they agree to U.S. demands that would weaken them militarily.

Ideally, according to Michael Ratney, the former US ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Trump would have to say nothing at all while his representatives are negotiating with the Iranians. But he doesn't usually do that. Trump repeatedly hurled numerous insults and threats while his envoys sought a peaceful resolution to the conflict. It is quite natural that both sides of the diplomatic negotiations want to exit the conflict with a declaration of victory. The question in this crisis is whether each side will be able to accept that the other will also declare victory.