The Memo: Trump announces ‘great settlement’ on Iran, but the world awaits details

This time it’s different — maybe.

President Trump announced a “great settlement of the war with Iran” when he spoke to reporters in the Oval Office Thursday afternoon.

It was an abrupt turn, even by his standards, from a morning social media post in which he pledged that the United States was about to hit Iran “VERY HARD” and that it would be “taking” the economically vital Kharg Island “in the not too distant future.”

He called off those strikes in a subsequent post announcing the purported deal.

Trump has insisted that an agreement is imminent numerous times since the war began on Feb. 28, with joint U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran. Earlier this week, CNN tallied at least 38 times when the president had made such a claim.

The difference this time lies in seemingly specific details.

Trump suggested a signing of the agreement could happen as soon as Saturday or Monday, at which point shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz would begin flowing freely.

The ceremony, Trump added, would likely be in Europe. He said he would be unable to attend but that Vice President Vance would do so. 

The agreement purportedly has the backing of numerous other nations. In his social media post, Trump said that in addition to the U.S., “Israel, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Turkey, Pakistan, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, Egypt, and others” were all on board.

Trump’s apparent confidence fueled a broader optimism — including on financial markets. The Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500........

© The Hill