Donald Trump has claimed that the United States and Iran are on the verge of signing a peace agreement, announcing the cancellation of fresh missile strikes. The US president made the statement on Truth Social, saying discussions had been brought to the highest level of Iranian leadership and approved.
Iran's foreign ministry swiftly dismissed the claim, with spokesman Esmail Baghaei stating that a final decision on the agreement had not been reached. The semi-official Tasnim news agency cautioned that any news from Trump on the matter should be dismissed until officially announced by Iran.
A diplomat briefed on the talks indicated that while large parts of the deal have been agreed, there remains a 50% chance of collapse. The proposed agreement includes a timeline for demining the Strait of Hormuz, during which the US naval blockade would remain in place, along with mechanisms for further nuclear talks and release of frozen Iranian assets.
Trump also claimed the deal had been approved by other parties, including Israel, which publicly denied being a party to the memorandum of understanding. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said he appreciated Trump's commitment to including red lines such as removal of enriched material and limits on missile production.
Earlier on Thursday, Trump threatened to seize Kharg Island, which handles about 90% of Iran's oil exports, and take control of Iran's oil and gas infrastructure. He later walked back those threats, telling Fox News he was unsure if America had the stomach for it. The UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, called on both sides to fully implement the April ceasefire and avoid further violence.
