Trump Calls Off Strikes, Claims US-Iran Peace Deal Is Imminent Despite Conflicting Reports

President Donald Trump announced late Thursday that he had canceled scheduled military strikes against Iran, declaring that a diplomatic agreement to end the months-long war is imminent. The sudden pivot comes after days of escalating threats, with Trump claiming that a draft Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been approved by the highest levels of Iranian leadership.[1][6]

The proposed deal aims to halt a conflict that began in late February with joint US-Israeli strikes on Iranian targets. Since then, Iran has blockaded the Strait of Hormuz—a critical artery for global energy supplies—sending international oil prices soaring past $100 a barrel and pushing US gasoline prices to roughly $4 a gallon. The economic fallout has created intense domestic pressure on the Trump administration to find an "off-ramp" from the hostilities.[4][8]

According to draft terms circulated among mediators, the immediate focus of the MoU is restoring maritime trade. The agreement would require Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz without levying tolls, while the United States would lift its naval blockade on Iranian ports. In exchange, Washington would reportedly begin releasing billions of dollars in frozen Iranian assets, with Iranian state media claiming an initial tranche of $24 billion would be unfrozen.[1][5][7]

However, the most contentious issue—Iran's nuclear program—appears to be deferred. Rather than a comprehensive nuclear treaty, the current draft establishes a 60-day ceasefire window during which detailed negotiations over uranium enrichment would take place. US officials insist the framework guarantees the eventual dismantling of Iran's nuclear capabilities, but Iranian media reports assert that Tehran has made no such concessions regarding its fundamental right to enrich uranium.[1][2][3]

The ambiguity surrounding the terms has already sparked public friction. On Friday, Trump lashed out on his Truth Social platform, accusing Iranian officials of leaking "false information" to the press. He called the Iranian leadership "dishonorable" and warned that there is "no such thing as dealing in good faith" with Tehran, even as he maintained that a signing ceremony could take place in Europe as early as this weekend, with Vice President JD Vance slated to attend.[3][7]

Iranian officials have been equally cautious in their public statements. While Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi acknowledged that a tentative agreement showed Iran had emerged stronger from the conflict, the country's Foreign Ministry spokesman emphasized that no final conclusion has been reached. State media reiterated that Tehran would only negotiate its nuclear program within the framework of its own red lines.[2][5]

The diplomatic push has also sidelined Israel, which launched the initial February strikes alongside the US but has not been a party to the current Qatari and Omani-mediated talks. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that Jerusalem retains the right to act independently to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asserted that he and Trump remain in "full agreement" on the ultimate goal of neutralizing the Iranian nuclear threat.[2][3]

For the White House, finalizing the deal would represent a major political victory ahead of the summer, allowing Trump to claim he successfully hobbled Iran's military infrastructure before negotiating from a position of strength. Yet, with conflicting narratives emerging from Washington and Tehran, the fragility of the MoU highlights the immense difficulty of translating a temporary ceasefire into a lasting regional settlement.[6][8]