A fresh round of uncertainty has emerged over the future of U.S.-Iran relations after U.S. President Donald Trump announced that a major peace settlement had been approved by all parties, while Iran insisted that no final decision has been reached on any agreement with Washington.
On Thursday, President Trump said he had cancelled planned military strikes against Iran, claiming that negotiations had advanced significantly and that the final points of a peace deal had been agreed upon in principle. According to Trump, the understanding involved not only the United States and Iran but also several regional and international stakeholders, including Israel, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Turkey, Pakistan, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan and Egypt.
Trump described the development as a “great settlement” and expressed confidence that a formal agreement could be signed in Europe within the coming days. The U.S. president presented the move as a major diplomatic breakthrough that could help ease tensions in the Middle East after months of uncertainty and military threats.
However, Iran quickly pushed back against the claims.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said on Friday that Tehran had not reached any final conclusion regarding an agreement with the United States. He stressed that discussions were still ongoing and that Iran had yet to make a definitive decision on the proposed framework.
Iran’s position was further reinforced by reports from the country’s semi-official Fars News Agency, which stated that Tehran had not approved any text for an initial memorandum of understanding with Washington.
The response highlighted a significant gap between the optimism projected by the White House and the more cautious approach adopted by Iranian officials.
Iranian media also questioned Trump’s announcement. The Tasnim News Agency noted that the U.S. president had repeatedly predicted imminent agreements over the past two months. According to the agency, similar claims had been made dozens of times without producing a final deal.
The agency advised observers to wait for official confirmation from Tehran before treating any announcement as conclusive, arguing that previous declarations had not resulted in a formal breakthrough.
The diplomatic developments came amid continued military tensions in the region.
A U.S. official revealed that American forces shot down two Iranian one-way attack drones on Thursday after Tehran allegedly attempted to target commercial shipping passing through the Strait of Hormuz. The waterway remains one of the world’s most strategically important maritime routes, handling a significant share of global oil shipments.
Despite the drone incident, the U.S. official said maritime traffic through the strait continued without disruption.
The episode underscored the fragile nature of the situation. While diplomatic efforts appear to be advancing, military confrontations between the two sides continue to raise concerns about the possibility of escalation.
Analysts say the contrasting statements from Washington and Tehran suggest that negotiations may still face significant hurdles. While Trump has portrayed the process as nearing completion, Iranian officials appear determined to maintain a cautious stance until all outstanding issues are resolved.
For now, the prospect of a U.S.-Iran agreement remains uncertain. Trump’s announcement has generated optimism among supporters of diplomacy, but Iran’s refusal to confirm any finalized arrangement indicates that critical negotiations may still lie ahead before a lasting settlement can be achieved.
