U.S. President Donald Trump announced Thursday that he had canceled planned military strikes against Iran after what he described as significant progress in negotiations aimed at preventing Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said the parties had reached a framework agreement under which “Iran will never have a nuclear weapon,” adding that final documents were expected to be completed within days.
“The completion of the final documents should be finished in the coming days,” Trump said. “Everyone in Iran has approved the agreement, including Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.”
Trump also stated that the Strait of Hormuz would “open immediately” following the signing of the agreement.
Trump: “We Ended the War”
According to CNN, Trump told a political conference call supporting Georgia Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones that the United States had effectively “ended the war” with Iran.
The president reiterated that Washington’s central demand remained unchanged: preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he spoke with Trump regarding the emerging agreement and emphasized that Israel is not a party to the memorandum of understanding currently being discussed.
According to Netanyahu, Trump committed that any final agreement would include:
- Removal of enriched nuclear material from Iran.
- Restrictions on Iran’s missile production.
- Limits on Iranian support for regional proxy organizations.
Reports of a Possible Signing Ceremony
Trump suggested that the agreement could be formally signed in a joint ceremony involving the parties, potentially as early as this weekend in Europe.
Iran’s semi-official Fars News Agency reported that Tehran has not yet granted final approval but indicated that the likelihood of signing is high if Washington accepts the understandings proposed by Iran.
Regional Players Reportedly Involved
Earlier Thursday, Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform that he had canceled the planned strikes after learning that the proposed framework had received approval from Iran’s senior leadership.
He further claimed that the final provisions had been approved by multiple regional stakeholders, including:
- Israel
- Saudi Arabia
- United Arab Emirates
- Qatar
- Turkey
- Pakistan
- Bahrain
- Kuwait
- Jordan
- Egypt
Surprise in Jerusalem
Israeli officials were reportedly surprised by Trump’s public remarks and his suggestion that a major diplomatic breakthrough had been achieved.
Throughout the day, Israeli assessments reportedly indicated that the diplomatic track was nearing a dead end and that prospects for a comprehensive agreement were diminishing.
However, according to a regional source, Qatari officials had informed counterparts earlier this week that a deal was close and could potentially be finalized within days.
Skepticism Remains After Repeated Predictions
Since April, Trump has publicly stated on dozens of occasions that an agreement with Iran was imminent. According to reports, he has made similar predictions 38 times without a final accord being reached.
Just one day before announcing the cancellation of the strikes, Trump complained that Iran was delaying the process despite having allegedly accepted the agreement’s key provisions.
Only hours before announcing the suspension of military action, Trump had threatened a powerful military response and suggested that the United States could seize Iran’s Kharg Island and other key energy infrastructure.
Kharg Island, located in the northern Persian Gulf, is the main hub for Iranian oil exports, handling the overwhelming majority of the country’s crude shipments.
Trump compared the proposed strategy to U.S. actions in Venezuela, arguing that control over energy infrastructure would benefit both the United States and the targeted country.
Continued Military Activity
Despite the diplomatic developments, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced overnight strikes against Iranian military surveillance capabilities, communications systems and air-defense sites.
CENTCOM said the operations were conducted in response to what it described as “Iran’s continued and unjustified aggression.”
Israeli security officials also prepared for the possibility of Iranian missile launches toward Israel.
Negotiations Continue Despite Fighting
Reuters reported Thursday that efforts to reach a preliminary agreement have intensified despite ongoing hostilities.
Three Iranian sources and one European source told the news agency that Washington and Tehran continue to exchange messages regarding the details of a memorandum of understanding.
According to the sources, the two sides have reached broad conceptual understandings, though several major issues remain unresolved.
One of the most significant disputes reportedly concerns the release of billions of dollars in Iranian oil revenues currently frozen in foreign bank accounts.
According to Iranian sources:
- Tehran is seeking the release of between $6 billion and $12 billion.
- Washington favors a gradual release mechanism.
- The U.S. wants the funds restricted primarily to humanitarian purchases rather than transferred directly to the Iranian government.
Iran Denies Some Reports
Fars News Agency later disputed portions of CNN’s reporting.
According to a source close to Iran’s negotiating team, no new direct talks are expected while military strikes continue.
The source said Tehran has not retreated from its “red lines” and remains committed to the framework it previously proposed, while blaming U.S. military threats and political pressure for the continued impasse.
Iranian officials maintain that disagreements over Washington’s response to Tehran’s proposal remain one of the principal obstacles to a final agreement.
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