WASHINGTON/TEHRAN: US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that the United States and Iran could sign a peace deal as soon as this weekend that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz to shipping, though Iranian officials said no final agreement had been reached.
Trump said the agreement, if finalised, would mark a major breakthrough aimed at ending a three-month conflict that has killed thousands and disrupted global energy markets.
“We just made a great settlement of the war with Iran,” Trump told reporters at the White House, adding that the deal could be signed “very soon, maybe over the weekend in Europe,” and that Vice President JD Vance could sign on behalf of the United States.
He said Iran would agree not to develop a nuclear weapon, while the Strait of Hormuz would reopen once the deal is signed.
However, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said that while significant parts of the draft agreement had been completed, no final decision had been taken.
“We have not reached a final conclusion on this matter,” Baghaei said, adding that the proposal remained under review by Iran’s decision-making bodies. Iranian officials also reiterated that sanctions relief and access to frozen assets remained key demands.
Trump further claimed that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei had approved the deal, though no independent confirmation was provided.
The US president said he had cancelled planned military strikes on Iran due to progress in negotiations and added that several regional countries, including Israel, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, and others, had been informed of the draft agreement.
Iranian state and regional media reported that large parts of the text under negotiation had been finalised, but described the deal as still subject to approval and internal review.
The announcement came amid ongoing tensions in the region, with both sides continuing to exchange strikes in recent weeks despite a fragile ceasefire declared earlier in April.
Trump said the agreement would ensure Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon, while Iran maintains that its nuclear programme is peaceful.
US and Iranian forces have carried out retaliatory attacks in recent days, including strikes near the Strait of Hormuz and missile and drone attacks on US positions in the region, according to regional authorities.
The Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy shipping route, has remained a central point of contention throughout the conflict, with any disruption having significant implications for global oil markets.
No formal signing date or location for the proposed agreement has been confirmed.