President Donald Trump claimed Thursday that the United States and Iran are close to signing a peace agreement, saying he canceled planned military strikes after talks with Tehran advanced. Iran, however, pushed back on the claim, saying no final decision had been made.
The conflicting statements came after two days of renewed attacks that threatened to collapse a fragile ceasefire between Washington and Tehran. Trump said on Truth Social that discussions with Iran had reached the highest level of leadership and that he had canceled scheduled strikes and bombings planned for Thursday evening.
The president later told reporters that a deal could be signed soon, possibly over the weekend in Europe. He suggested that an agreement would allow the Strait of Hormuz to reopen once the document is signed.
Iranian officials were more cautious. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said large parts of the text under negotiation had been finalized, but Tehran had not reached a final conclusion. He also said Iran would not compromise on its red lines.
TRENDING TODAY
That gap between Trump’s public optimism and Iran’s official caution has left the status of the talks unclear. The White House is presenting the moment as a possible diplomatic breakthrough, while Tehran is warning that no final agreement should be assumed until Iran announces one.
The proposed arrangement reportedly focuses on turning the temporary ceasefire into a more durable framework. It is said to include a timeline for demining the Strait of Hormuz, further nuclear discussions, and possible mechanisms for releasing frozen Iranian assets. But several details remain unresolved, including how any funds would be released and how regional conflicts would be handled.
The Strait of Hormuz remains central to the dispute. The narrow waterway is one of the world’s most important energy chokepoints, carrying a major share of global oil shipments. Restrictions and attacks around the strait have increased pressure on energy markets and added to inflation concerns in Europe and beyond.
Trump has argued that Iran must stop interfering with shipping and provide guarantees that it will not develop a nuclear weapon. Tehran has long denied seeking a nuclear weapon and says any deal must respect its sovereignty and economic interests.
The diplomatic push followed a sharp escalation in rhetoric. Earlier Thursday, Trump threatened to hit Iran “very hard” and suggested the United States could take control of Kharg Island and other oil infrastructure. Kharg is a key export hub for Iranian oil. Military analysts have warned that any attempt to seize the island would be highly risky and could require U.S. ground forces.
Trump later appeared to soften that position, saying he preferred a deal and did not know whether the United States had the public appetite for taking the island. He also said he wanted to avoid strikes on Iranian bridges and power plants, despite earlier threats.
Iranian officials responded by warning that any uncalculated U.S. move would bring a stronger response. The exchange underscored how quickly the situation could shift from diplomacy back to military escalation.
The latest fighting reportedly began after the downing of a U.S. helicopter over the Strait of Hormuz. Since then, the two sides have traded strikes and accusations of ceasefire violations. The U.S. said its strikes targeted Iranian military surveillance, communications and air-defense capabilities. Iran responded with missile and drone attacks aimed at U.S.-linked positions and regional targets.
The violence has alarmed international officials. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called on both sides to return to full implementation of the ceasefire and avoid steps that could restart a wider conflict with unpredictable consequences for the region and the world.
Israel’s role in the talks remains complicated. Trump claimed regional partners and other parties to the conflict had approved the direction of the negotiations. But Israeli officials said Israel was not a party to the memorandum of understanding with Iran. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said he appreciated Trump’s commitment to ensuring that any final agreement would address enriched material, missile production and Iran’s support for regional proxies.
Those issues are among the most sensitive parts of the talks. Iran has historically resisted limits it sees as violating its sovereignty or weakening its regional position. Israel has repeatedly warned against any deal that leaves Iran with nuclear or missile capabilities it considers threatening.
The economic side of the negotiations may be just as difficult. Iran wants frozen assets released quickly and directly, while the United States reportedly prefers a phased approach tied to humanitarian goods and compliance steps. That disagreement could become one of the main obstacles to a final agreement.
For Trump, a deal would offer a major foreign-policy achievement at a time when the conflict has become politically risky at home. Rising oil prices, inflation pressure and concern over another Middle East war have made the issue increasingly sensitive ahead of the midterm elections.
But Trump’s repeated claims that a deal is close have also created skepticism. Tehran has not confirmed that a final agreement exists, and diplomats familiar with the talks have warned that the process could still collapse.
For now, the situation remains fluid. The planned U.S. strikes appear to have been paused, but the ceasefire remains fragile and the proposed agreement has not been publicly signed or confirmed by Iran.
The next few days could determine whether Trump’s announcement becomes the start of a diplomatic breakthrough or another failed attempt to end the conflict.
Why It Matters
This matters because the U.S.-Iran conflict affects global security, oil markets and inflation. Any agreement that reopens the Strait of Hormuz and reduces the risk of new strikes could ease pressure on energy prices and lower the chance of a wider regional war.
It also matters because Trump is making major claims that Iran has not confirmed. Until Tehran officially approves a deal, the situation remains uncertain and the risk of renewed escalation remains high.
What Comes Next
Negotiators are expected to keep working on the final text of a possible agreement. Key unresolved issues include the Strait of Hormuz, nuclear talks, frozen Iranian assets and the role of regional conflicts.
If a memorandum is signed in the coming days, the focus will shift to whether both sides follow through. If talks collapse, the paused U.S. strikes and Iran’s warnings could quickly return the region to open conflict.
Reuters reported that Trump said the United States and Iran could soon sign a peace deal that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz, while Tehran said no final decision had been reached.
President Trump said the United States and Iran could sign a peace deal as soon as this weekend that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz to shipping, but Tehran countered that it had not reached a final decision on an agreement https://t.co/06V8DLGOlG pic.twitter.com/xrE56tPY8V
— Reuters (@Reuters) June 12, 2026
