Trump Walks Back Iran Deal Urgency — Says US 'In No Rush'; Axios Reveals Deal Framework Includes 60-Day Ceasefire, HEU Transfer

President Trump on May 24, 2026 (Day 85) cooled expectations of an imminent Iran peace deal, reversing his May 23 'largely negotiated' statement by saying the US was 'in no rush' to finalize an agreement. Iran's semi-official Fars News Agency maintained there were 'wide disagreements' remaining, and Iran did not officially confirm any deal framework. An Axios exclusive published May 24 laid out the proposed framework in detail: (1) a 60-day ceasefire extension during which the Strait of Hormuz would be fully reopened and Iran permitted to freely sell oil; (2) Iran commits to 'never pursuing nuclear weapons' and to negotiating a formal suspension of uranium enrichment in exchange for sanctions relief; (3) Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium would be diluted or transferred to a third country, likely Russia; (4) the US would simultaneously end its naval blockade of Iranian ports. Key outstanding gaps: the US demands a 10-12 year enrichment moratorium while Iran's known position is a 5-year suspension; Iran also seeks war reparations, $6B in frozen assets, and formal Hezbollah/Houthi security commitments. Markets remained cautiously optimistic — Brent crude hovered near ~$100-102/bbl — down from $107 pre-announcement highs — reflecting deal possibility but not certainty. The US-Iran war remains in its 85th day with the fragile April 8 ceasefire technically holding.