US President Donald Trump claimed in Washington on Thursday that a prospective US-Iran deal is close to being finalized to end the ongoing war, according to Al Jazeera and Reuters. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump asserted that a formal signing ceremony could take place in Europe as early as this weekend. Following his announcement, international oil futures experienced a temporary drop as markets reacted to the potential de-escalation of the Gulf conflict. The president stated on his Truth Social platform that discussions have reached the highest levels of Iranian leadership and have been approved in concept.
Earlier on Thursday afternoon, Trump had threatened to launch massive military strikes against Iran and seize total control of its critical Kharg Island oil infrastructure. The facility handles approximately 90 percent of Iranian crude exports and remains highly vulnerable to military actions due to its strategic position in the Persian Gulf. However, Trump abruptly called off the planned operations, declaring that a diplomatic breakthrough was imminent instead. The White House indicated that Vice President JD Vance is slated to lead the American delegation at the potential signing ceremony after previously brokering the initial ceasefire in Islamabad.
Tehran immediately downplayed the claims from Washington, characterizing the statements as mere speculation rather than a finalized agreement. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei informed state media that while a draft memorandum of understanding is currently under consideration, Iran will not compromise on its core sovereignty. He emphasized that although major portions of the negotiating text have been completed, the United States has repeatedly altered its positions during the talks. Iran`s Tasnim News Agency noted that Trump has publicly announced an imminent US-Iran deal nearly 38 times over the past two months without any concrete results.
What remains unclear is whether this potential framework will lead to a lasting peace or merely serve as a temporary mechanism to extend the shaky ceasefire. Wolfgang Pusztai, a defense analyst and former Austrian military official, told Al Jazeera that the president`s statements should be viewed as part of an information warfare strategy. He explained that the rhetoric targets three distinct audiences, including the Republican political base, international financial markets, and the Iranian government itself. Diplomatic efforts have been channeled through Pakistani mediators since direct negotiations between the two nations collapsed in April.
The conflict erupted in late February 2026 when coordinated US and Israeli strikes targeted Iran, precipitating the worst global energy crisis in modern history. Trump appears highly eager to secure a major foreign policy victory amid preparations for his upcoming 80th birthday and the return of the football World Cup to the country. The United States continues to demand that Iran completely dismantle its highly enriched uranium stockpiles and abandon any nuclear weapon ambitions. Conversely, Tehran insists on the immediate lifting of economic sanctions and the release of frozen international assets before any final US-Iran deal can be officially concluded.
