President Donald Trump will mark his 80th birthday Sunday waiting to see whether Iran delivers the diplomatic breakthrough he predicted would come by day’s end.
Trump said Saturday that a deal with Tehran could be signed Sunday, raising expectations that his birthday could coincide with a major foreign policy victory after weeks of conflict and negotiations with Iran.
But Iranian officials have signaled the timeline may not move as quickly as Trump suggested, saying an agreement could come in the coming days as Iranian negotiators are still reviewing the proposed text, according to Iranian state media. Bloomberg reported that Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei had not agreed to the memorandum as of Friday.
The possible deal is expected to center on ending the war with Iran by creating an agreement between Tehran and Washington that bars Iran from ever purchasing or building a nuclear weapon. Additionally, Trump has said all “nuclear dust” will be removed from the country.
“A WALL TO NO NUCLEAR WEAPON!” Trump said of the deal on Saturday. “In fact, they no longer want a Nuclear Weapon, nor will they have one, either through purchase, development, or any other form of procurement.”
Trump has claimed a deal with Iran is on the horizon several times, but each time talks have fallen through and fighting resumed. This time around, Iran and Pakistani mediators have voiced similar optimism that a deal is close.
But Israel’s strikes on Beirut to target Hezbollah on Sunday could imperil Trump’s plan to have a deal finalized on his special day. Israel said the strikes were in response to projectiles launched by Hezbollah.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf said Sunday that Israeli strikes show that “America either lacks the will to fulfill its commitments or the ability to do so.”
“By giving the green light to the regime, you cannot gain concessions,” Ghalibaf said. “The game of bad cop and good cop is outdated. If you lack the will and ability to fulfill your commitments, speaking of continuing the path is not possible.”
The foreign policy drama will unfold as Trump hosts one of the most unusual birthday events in presidential history: a UFC fight card on the White House South Lawn.
“UFC Freedom 250,” a mixed martial arts event tied to the nation’s upcoming 250th anniversary, is scheduled for Sunday night and expected to draw thousands of guests to a specially built “claw” on White House grounds. Trump, a longtime UFC fan and friend of Dana White, is expected to attend fights, which are headlined by a lightweight title bout between Ilia Topuria and Justin Gaethje.
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The spectacle has drawn legal and ethical scrutiny over the use of federal property for a private sporting event, but a court declined to block it from moving forward.
The event was not paid for using taxpayer dollars but rather the UFC’s parent company, TKO Group Holdings, is fronting the roughly $60 million it cost to build the event and make it a reality.