'We just made a great settlement': Trump backs off Iran strikes, hints at weekend deal

US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he had called off planned military strikes on Iran after what he described as progress in negotiations to end the war.

He told reporters at the White House, “We just made a great settlement of the war with Iran,” and said the Strait of Hormuz would reopen once the deal was signed.

Trump said the agreement could be finalised “very soon, maybe over the weekend in Europe".

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A nod, though not quite a signature

Trump said Vice President JD Vance could sign for the United States and added, when asked whether Iran’s Supreme Leader had approved the deal, “I understand the answer is yes.”

But Iranian officials pushed back on that framing. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said, “Iran has not yet reached a final conclusion on an agreement,” while also saying that large parts of the negotiating text had been finalised and that Tehran would not compromise on its red lines.

The temperature drops a degree

The reported breakthrough came after a volatile day of threats and reversals from Trump.

Earlier, he had warned Iran that the US would hit it “VERY HARD” and move against its oil sector before later softening that line and saying he did not think America had the appetite for ground intervention.

The president also claimed he had spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and several Gulf leaders, including those of Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Kuwait.

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Peace talks beneath gathering clouds

The talks come against the backdrop of a three-month war that Reuters said has killed thousands and pushed global energy prices higher.

Trump has repeatedly said in recent weeks that a deal was close, but no agreement had materialised until now.

Iranian and US forces have traded strikes this week, straining a ceasefire announced in April, while the dispute also remains tied to Iran’s nuclear programme and control of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping lane for oil and gas.

FAQs

Q1: Why did Trump call off the planned strikes on Iran?

Ans: Trump said he halted the strikes because negotiations with Iran had made progress and a deal could be reached soon.

Q2: Has the US-Iran agreement been finalized?

Ans: No, Iranian officials said a final agreement has not yet been reached despite progress in the talks.