U.S.-Iran Conflict: Trump Says Deal 'Largely Negotiated' Amid New Airspace Restrictions

President Donald Trump announced on May 23 that an agreement to end the ongoing conflict with Iran has been 'largely negotiated,' with only final details remaining. In a statement on Truth Social, the President Suggested that the Strait of Hormuz would be reopened as part of the arrangement. However, he maintained a dual-track approach, later telling reporters that he may decide by May 24 whether to resume military strikes, stating he will either sign a 'good' deal or hit Iran harder than ever before. On the diplomatic front, Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that 'some progress' has been made through international mediation. Pakistan’s military chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, remains a central figure in these efforts, holding high-level talks in Tehran regarding a 14-point framework document. The diplomatic push has expanded to include Qatar, the Gulf states, and various Western nations seeking to prevent a wider regional war. Despite the optimistic rhetoric from the White House, tensions on the ground remain acute. Iran's Civil Aviation Organization has issued a Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) imposing severe restrictions on passenger flights over western Iran. These restrictions, coupled with the absence of new proxy attacks or formal sanctions packages in the last 24 hours, suggest a volatile period of 'military contingency planning' as both sides weigh the prospects of a diplomatic breakthrough against the risk of renewed kinetic operations.