“The United States and Iran have agreed to a deal in principle to wind down the war in the Middle East and end the Iranian blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a senior U.S. official said Sunday, although some of the most sensitive issues have yet to be resolved,” the New York Times reports.

“There was no immediate public statements from Iran about a deal being reached, and Iranian officials over the last 24 hours offered some conflicting depictions of what a potential agreement might contain. The U.S. official said Sunday that a deal had not yet been signed and was still subject to final approval from President Trump and Iran’s supreme leader, which could take days.”

John Ellis: “The Iran war is ‘unspinnable’ as a win for the United States, because victory required Iran’s defeat. For Iran, victory means (and has always meant) not losing. However one assesses the war at this juncture, Iran has not lost.”

“Indeed, it has gained at least some degree of control over the Strait of Hormuz, which means it now has leverage over the global economy that it did not have before the outbreak of the war. This has elevated Iran’s status as a global power; not to the first tier, but as an emboldened geopolitical force to be reckoned with.

“You could call that ‘winning,’ You wouldn’t call it defeat.”

Wall Street Journal: “Rodríguez has rapidly positioned herself as Washington’s indispensable partner in Venezuela since U.S. commandos captured her boss, strongman Nicolás Maduro, in January. Once an adversary sanctioned by the U.S. and a hard-line socialist, she now hosts a steady stream of Americans eager to invest in oil-rich Venezuela, and wins praise from Trump.”

“So far, Rodríguez’s alliance with the U.S. is giving her the money, legitimacy and time to consolidate power and preserve much of the authoritarian system built under Maduro—while pushing free elections further out of reach.”

“The agreement the U.S. and Iran are close to signing involves a 60-day ceasefire extension during which the Strait of Hormuz would be reopened, Iran would be able to freely sell oil, and negotiations would be held on curbing Iran’s nuclear program,” Axios reports.

“The deal would avoid an escalation of the war and decrease the pressure on the global oil supply. However, it’s unclear whether it will lead to a lasting peace agreement that also addresses President Trump’s nuclear demands.”

President Trump said Saturday that a deal with Iran, including opening the Strait of Hormuz, has been “largely negotiated” after calls with Israel and other allies in the region, the AP reports.

He said final aspects and details of the deal are being discussed and will be announced “shortly.”

New York Times: “Mr. Trump provided few details about the preliminary agreement, and there was no immediate confirmation from Iran or Israel. It is unclear if the latest negotiations were just about extending the current cease-fire or a more permanent peace.”

“African countries are finding it harder to export to the U.S. since President Trump returned to the White House with a long list of tariffs. But China sees their struggle as an opportunity,” the Wall Street Journal reports.

“Since May 1, Beijing has removed tariffs on all goods from 53 of 54 African nations in an effort to win business and influence across the continent. Everything from wine to sesame seeds and wool has been entering China tariff-free from everywhere except tiny Eswatini, which maintains diplomatic ties with Taiwan.”

“Analysts say the move could push Africa’s population of more than a billion people and vast mineral resources further into China’s orbit.”