Trump Says Iran Deal Nears Completion, Europe Signing Expected This Weekend
Trump says agreement is near, though Iran remains cautious.
US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that a peace agreement with Iran could be signed in Europe as early as this weekend, expressing confidence that the long-running dispute over Tehran's nuclear programme was nearing resolution. Trump also predicted that the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz would reopen immediately once the deal is finalized.
Speaking to reporters, Trump suggested the agreement could be signed on Saturday or Monday, though he stopped short of setting a firm deadline. He said the documents were in their final stages and described the proposed arrangement as a "great settlement" that would ensure Iran never acquires a nuclear weapon. According to Trump, preventing Tehran from obtaining nuclear arms had been the primary objective of recent US actions and negotiations.
The US president further claimed that the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping route for global energy supplies, had effectively remained operational for months despite concerns over disruptions. He stated that large quantities of oil had continued to move through the waterway and suggested that its reopening would be formally recognized once an agreement is signed. Trump also said he would not attend the signing ceremony in Europe because of a scheduled UFC event at the White House on Sunday.
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The remarks came after days of heightened tensions in the region, including sustained US strikes on Iranian military and infrastructure targets followed by multiple rounds of diplomatic negotiations in Oman and Europe. The military campaign reportedly weakened several Iranian defence capabilities, while Iran responded with missile and air strikes targeting US military installations in Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan.
However, Iran's government offered a sharply different assessment of the situation. Tehran's Foreign Ministry said no agreement had yet been reached and rejected suggestions that the Strait of Hormuz had reopened. According to Iran's position, the waterway remains under Iranian authority and safe passage cannot currently be guaranteed, directly contradicting Trump's claims about the status of maritime traffic.
Iran also maintained that it would not give up its enriched uranium stockpiles or make concessions on its nuclear programme. Officials further demanded the release of $24 billion in frozen Iranian funds as a condition for any future agreement. The conflicting statements from Washington and Tehran highlight the uncertainty that continues to surround negotiations despite Trump's optimistic outlook for a breakthrough in the coming days.
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