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Donald Trump has wrapped up what's he's called the final determination on Iran after a two-hour meeting in the White House situation room. Let's go to Washington correspondent Jonathan Kerszley who's outside the West Wing now. Jonno, a very good morning from Australia. Are the two sides any closer to an initial deal? Well, that's the big and ultimate question, isn't it, Alex? And right now it seems as if for now it is a status quo. But there's been no confirmation coming out of the White House yet that any major deal has been struck after President Trump launched into Truth Social earlier this morning with essentially his ultimatum. What he said Iran should and must be doing in order for this deal to be done. It was there
he announced he was heading inside the situation room with his closest advisers for what he called the final determination on the situation with Iran. And I want to read you some of his very lengthy post about what he is seeking from Iran as part of this deal. It is quite lengthy, but it is important to get through. This is some of what he says. Iran must agree that they will never have a nuclear weapon or bomb. The Hormoo Straight must be immediately open. No tolls for unrestricted shipping traffic in both directions. He goes on to talk about enriched uranium. Now, this has been a central point too for the Trump administration throughout the entirety of this conflict. He says, "The enriched material, sometimes referred to
as nuclear dust, which is buried deep underground with virtually collapsed mountains caused by our powerful B2 bomber attack 11 months ago sitting on top of it, will be unearthed by the United States in close coordination and conjunction with the Islamic Republic of Iran plus the International Atomic Energy Agency and destroyed." Alex, it's also interesting worth noting that point that President Trump talks about of the idea that Iran must never have a nuclear weapon and must commit to that was one of the main elements of the JCPOA, the so-called Iran nuclear deal struck by President Obama that President Trump walked away from in his first term.
We've also heard from Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson today uh spoke a couple of hours or so ago as the talks were going on inside the situation room. Still, according to Iran, there is some work to be done on the finalization of any document. Let's hear from the Iran foreign ministry spokesperson. As I speak to you now, the exchange of messages is continuing, but an understanding has not been finalized. Regarding other points that have been mentioned, including the nuclear issue, I stress again that at this stage, we are focused on ending the war.
Alex, we've seen the US financial markets respond positively to the idea that President Trump could be approaching a final decision on the proposed arrangements that were before him and had been before him for a number of days. Oil prices also fell. But there came a warning when it comes to the straight of hormuz and oil supply from a number of groups including the international energy agency, the world bank, the international monetary fund and the world trade organization which met yesterday but issued this joint statement today and it is telling. They say if shipping flows do not return to normal, continued rapid depletion of global oil inventories ahead of peak summer oil demand in the northern hemisphere would present increasing risks for fuel security, market
conditions, and broader economic resilience. So while negotiations between Iran and the United States continue very much behind the scenes and obviously inside their own respective camps with the idea that they both want to get to ending this conflict. There is clear concern that if something is not done to reopen the straight of Hormuz then there is going to be a severe and ongoing financial and oil supply implication for countries around the world. Alex, yeah, it felt like we're on the verge of a deal this time last week and it's often seemed like a full stor at times in recent weeks. The world hoping this is different. Jonathan Kursley, thank
