Increasing optimism for a US-Iran peace deal

WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - U.S. and Iranian officials are each expressing optimism that a peace deal to end the war in Iran is within reach.

Over the last two months efforts to find a diplomatic end to the war in Iran have failed to materialize. But in the past 24 hours both the U.S. and Iran are saying that deal is near to end the war which began in late February.

On Friday, Iran’s Foreign Minister said that an agreement between Iran and the U.S. has in his words “never been closer.” And President Trump hinted that a signing ceremony could happen as soon as this weekend.

The deal - according to a senior Administration official - would reopen the Strait of Hormuz and have Iran commit to both ending its nuclear ambitions and turning over its enriched uranium to the U.S.

Although U.S. officials say Israel is on board with the deal, Israel’s defense minister in a social media post reiterated that Israel must retain the ability to “act independently to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons” in the future.

A very Senior Administration official acknowledged to me earlier today that it’s difficult to trust Iran. But the official said that the deal lays out various markers to build trust and make certain that Iran abides by its commitments. President Trump is expected to head to France for the G7 meetings Monday.