Iran deputy foreign minister confirms talks on an immediate end to US-Iran conflict as Trump disputes Strait of Hormuz oil “toll” claims; UFC reports crypto deals

Iran’s deputy foreign minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, said in early Monday remarks that an agreement calling for an “immediate end” to the US-Iranian war had been reached, and he said Lebanon was included in the arrangements, according to Tehran state media as reported by The Guardian. The comments were made as questions persisted inside the US about what any prospective US-Iran de-escalation would mean in practice, including whether military and economic measures would be adjusted and on what timeline.

Gharibabadi’s remarks contrasted with President Trump’s public characterization of the energy situation in the Middle East. Trump told reporters, according to The Guardian’s roundup, that the flow of oil through the Strait of Hormuz would be “toll-free,” describing the change as the product of his administration’s approach. The same roundup said developments in Tehran suggested the situation could instead be governed by “Iranian arrangements,” leaving the status and enforcement of any promised access uncertain.

The administration’s competing portrayals of Hormuz access matter because the Strait of Hormuz is a narrow chokepoint for global oil shipments. While Trump presented the “toll-free” claim as a matter of access and costs, the Tehran account referenced by The Guardian pointed to an alternative framework that could imply different terms or oversight over passage. The practical implications depend on what, if anything, the US has formally agreed to and whether any arrangements are enforceable and communicated through official channels.

The Guardian also reported a separate US domestic development tied to Trump-related business activity. It said the UFC, the mixed martial arts organization, is paying fighters in connection with a cryptocurrency program tied to Trump. The report framed the arrangement as part of a broader trend of sports and entertainment entities moving toward crypto-linked payment or sponsorship mechanisms, raising questions for athletes and regulators about transparency, valuation, and compliance.

In the foreign policy track, the immediate-cessation claim described by Gharibabadi would be expected to hinge on documented steps by both governments, including public statements, formal diplomatic communications, and any corresponding changes to sanctions, military posture, or enforcement of existing agreements. The Guardian’s roundup did not provide the full text of any agreement, the specific parties who signed it, or whether the US government had confirmed the terms.

As for the Hormuz dispute, the “toll-free” statement attributed to Trump and the Tehran account described as “Iranian arrangements” are not fully reconciled in the reporting. Without official US documentation or a synchronized statement from multiple governments, the record leaves uncertainty over whether costs and controls for maritime passage will change, and which entity would administer any new terms.

Both developments underscore the need for clarity in how de-escalation claims and commercial arrangements are implemented. In the Iran-related case, the next step is verification through official US and Iranian channels and any corresponding policy or legal changes. In the UFC-crypto case, the next step is confirmation of the payment mechanism’s terms, including how compensation is priced, converted, and handled for tax and regulatory purposes.

The Guardian’s reporting provides a window into what Trump said publicly and what Iranian officials told state media, but it does not substitute for a primary record of any agreement’s legal status. Editors and readers may need to track follow-up statements and official documents to determine whether claims about an “immediate end” and “toll-free opening” are matched by corresponding executive actions, diplomatic communications, or published policy changes.