Iran says no final agreement has been reached to end its current conflict with the United States, contradicting President Donald Trump’s latest claim that a deal is close.
Trump initially warned that the U.S. would hit Iran “very hard” again on Thursday, but later said he had called off the strikes because negotiators had reached what he described as a major settlement. He told reporters the agreement only needed final documents to be completed and suggested a signing ceremony could take place in Europe within days.
Iran, however, pushed back on that account. Foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said talk of a completed deal was premature, describing reports of an agreement as speculative and stressing that nothing had been finalized. Trump has made similar claims before about an Iran deal being near, only for no agreement to follow.
The latest tensions stem from the broad U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran launched on Feb. 28. Iran retaliated by targeting Israel and U.S.-aligned Gulf states, while also effectively shutting the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial route for global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments.
Although a ceasefire was announced in April, fighting has not fully stopped. The U.S. and Iran have continued to trade sporadic attacks, including two rounds of retaliatory strikes this week. At the same time, Trump has repeatedly suggested that negotiations are moving toward a breakthrough.
His newest comments had an immediate effect on markets, with Brent crude dropping about 4.4 percent to roughly $89 a barrel.
Trump said the proposed deal would ensure Iran never obtains a nuclear weapon, calling that the central goal of the conflict. He added that the paperwork was nearly complete and that the Strait of Hormuz would reopen once the agreement was signed. He also said he had spoken with regional leaders, including Gulf allies and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and claimed there was broad support across the Middle East.
Baghaei gave a more cautious picture. He said much of the memorandum’s wording had been settled, but accused Washington of introducing excessive demands and adding new conditions. He also said Iran would not cross its established red lines.
The White House has been seeking a rapid diplomatic outcome that would end the fighting, address security in the Strait of Hormuz and limit Iran’s nuclear program. Trump said on April 20 that a deal could come quickly, and his administration continued to signal progress in the weeks afterward.
But the talks have repeatedly run into trouble. On May 27, after reports suggested the sides were nearing an agreement, Trump said he was unhappy with the terms. Negotiations have continued since, but Iran’s latest statement makes clear that no final deal has yet been secured.
