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A source suggests that a deal could be signed Sunday.
Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed that the US and Iran were close to reaching an agreement to end the more than 100-day-long conflict.
Yesterday, he warned of an impending attack on Iran, possibly including the seizure of Iran’s Kharg Island. However, the president later called off the planned attack, allegedly because of progress in the negotiations between the two parties.
Speaking to reporters, Donald Trump claimed that a major deal to halt the ongoing conflict with Iran is practically done, saying Iran and the US had “just made a great settlement”, the BBC reports.
A source has even told Reuters that a peace deal could be signed as early as this Sunday.
But the view from Tehran is completely different. Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Esmail Baghaei, quickly poured cold water on those claims, calling the reports speculative and insisting that nothing is official yet.
Mixed signals
According to Trump, the two sides have reached a historic understanding.
He stated, “We have a deal that Iran will never have a nuclear weapon, which was the whole purpose of what we had to go through to get this. So, it’s a very big thing.”
The deal could unlock a vital global shipping route. Trump promised that the Strait of Hormuz would open “as soon as we have it signed.” Ever since a massive spike in fighting back in February, the strategic waterway has been completely choked.
The conflict has kept the global energy market on edge for months. Following the news of a potential breakthrough, the price of Brent crude oil tumbled 4.4 percent to about $89 a barrel.
Still, the path to a final agreement remains rocky. Baghaei noted that while most of the text is ready, the US has introduced “excessive demands” and “new requests.” He made it clear that Iran will not “depart from its red lines.”
Neighbors watch closely
Trump mentioned that he discussed the situation with regional allies, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The president enthusiastically declared, “The whole Middle East is very happy.”
However, Israel is keeping its distance from the paperwork. The Israeli prime minister’s office clarified in a statement, that Israel “is not a party to the memorandum of understanding.”
Even so, Netanyahu thanked Trump for pushing to dismantle Iran’s nuclear infrastructure and stop its support for regional militant groups.
This is not the first time a resolution seemed close. Trump previously claimed a deal was coming in April and May, only to pull back when he became unsatisfied with the terms.
