Trump Cancels Strikes on Iran, Claims Peace Deal to End War is Imminent

President Donald Trump abruptly cancelled planned "very hard" military strikes against Iran on Thursday evening, declaring that a comprehensive peace agreement to end the 15-week war is in its final stages. The sudden pivot from military escalation to diplomacy comes after days of intense back-and-forth fire that threatened to collapse a fragile April ceasefire. The announcement immediately rippled through global markets, triggering a stock rally and a sharp drop in Brent crude oil prices, which had previously soared past $100 a barrel due to the conflict.[2][3]

Writing on Truth Social, Trump claimed that the terms of the settlement had been approved by the "highest level of Iranian leadership," including Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei. He stated that the agreement would be signed shortly, potentially this weekend in Europe, and that he plans to dispatch Vice President JD Vance for the formal ceremony. "Based on the fact that discussions with the Islamic Republic of Iran have been brought to the highest level of Iranian leadership and approved, I have... cancelled the scheduled strikes and bombings against Iran this evening," the president wrote.[2][3]

The White House has characterized the emerging pact as a strict "performance-based deal." According to US officials, the agreement requires Tehran to dismantle its nuclear program, reopen the vital Strait of Hormuz to international shipping, and cease funding regional militant groups before any of its frozen assets are released. Vice President Vance took to social media to reinforce this framing, emphasizing that "no funds are being released for simply signing a deal or attending a meeting," and that economic benefits will only flow once Iran meets its obligations.[1][4]

Despite the optimism radiating from Washington, officials in Tehran have visibly pumped the brakes on the victory lap. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei confirmed that large portions of the negotiating text are finalized, but he firmly insisted that "Iran has not reached a final conclusion on the agreement." Iranian state media outlets, including the semi-official Tasnim news agency, warned the public against treating Trump's announcements as official policy until Tehran formally agrees, noting the president's history of prematurely declaring diplomatic breakthroughs.[2]

The exact parameters of the deal remain fiercely contested, sparking a war of words over leaked terms. Reports originating from Iranian state media and regional mediators suggested that Iran might retain joint control over the Strait of Hormuz in partnership with Oman, and that discussions regarding its nuclear program could be delayed for 60 days. The leaks also suggested the immediate unfreezing of billions of dollars in assets in exchange for halting hostilities.[5]

Trump angrily dismissed these reports, calling the Iranian negotiators "very dishonorable people to deal with." He insisted that the leaked terms have "NOTHING to do with the terms that were agreed to, in writing," though he declined to specify which provisions were inaccurate. The public dispute highlights the fragility of the negotiations, as both sides attempt to project strength and claim victory to their respective domestic audiences while mediators from Qatar, Oman, and Pakistan scramble to finalize the text.[1][5]

The push for an off-ramp comes as the war, officially dubbed Operation Epic Fury, drags into its fourth month and exerts mounting political and economic pressure. While the administration has touted the severe degradation of Iran's air force and naval capabilities, the conflict has driven up domestic gas prices and drawn criticism from both anti-war conservatives and hawkish Republicans. Several prominent lawmakers have publicly warned against any agreement that provides massive reconstruction funds to Iran while the current regime remains in power.[3][6]

The regional stakes of the diplomatic push are immense. The conflict, which began on February 28 with joint US-Israeli strikes, has severely disrupted global shipping; US Central Command recently reported that 136 commercial vessels have been redirected due to the naval blockade of Iranian ports. Israel, a key US ally, was reportedly caught off guard by Trump's sudden announcement. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office quickly clarified that Israel is not a direct party to the emerging memorandum of understanding, though Netanyahu affirmed his alignment with Trump's goal of permanently neutralizing Iran's nuclear threat. If the deal holds, it would mark a massive diplomatic stabilization; if it collapses, the region braces for an immediate return to devastating military strikes.[1][4]