<\/p>\n
President Donald Trump pulled back threatened military strikes against Iran, a stark reversal that came just hours after he vowed to hit the Islamic Republic \u201cVERY HARD\u201d and threatened to seize its oil infrastructure.<\/p>\n
US forces had already pounded Iran with airstrikes for two straight days when Trump on Thursday morning said they would do so for a third. But then in the afternoon, Trump announced on social media the attacks were off, claiming again that a deal was close \u2014 without any confirmation from Iran.<\/p>\n
Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that a signing could take place as soon as this weekend in Europe and that Vice President JD Vance would attend if it materialises. He also said Iran\u2019s supreme leader had agreed to a deal, though he cautioned it was not finalized.<\/p>\n
The president described it as \u201ca very strong memorandum of understanding that is a little conceptual,\u201d which would restart shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and include commitments from Tehran to not pursue a nuclear weapon.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe ended the war with Iran today,\u201d Trump told an evening tele-rally for Burt Jones, who\u2019s running for the US Senate in Georgia. During another tele-rally for Barry Moore, a Senate candidate in Alabama, the president said, \u201cWe made a great deal. There\u2019ll be no nuclear weapons. People will start coming home very soon. It\u2019s pretty much, pretty much completed. We got everything we wanted.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Iran\u2019s semi-official news agency Fars, however, said earlier Thursday that officials had not yet approved the text of any agreement with the US, citing an unnamed source. Iran\u2019s nuclear program and its frozen assets have long been sticking points in the talks.<\/p>\n
The memorandum of understanding would extend the ceasefire by 60 days, including in Lebanon, immediately reopen the Strait of Hormuz without tolls and provide Iran with sanctions relief tied to its compliance with the agreement, Axios reported, citing an unnamed US official and a diplomat from one of the mediating countries. In return, the US would lift its naval blockade, and the two sides would continue nuclear negotiations during the truce.<\/p>\n
Oil plunged while stocks rebounded on Trump\u2019s comments. MSCI\u2019s Asia Pacific equities gauge jumped 3.3% in its biggest advance in two months. Brent crude fell about 1.3% to around $89 a barrel.<\/p>\n
Trump\u2019s announcement is the latest in a series of mixed signals about a war that is now in its fourth month, despite his initial prediction that it would last four to six weeks. The conflict has become increasingly unpopular with Americans facing higher fuel prices.<\/p>\n
The US president has repeatedly insisted a deal was within reach, yet none has materialized. His latest claim came days after a two-month ceasefire collapsed amid tit-for-tat strikes.<\/p>\n
Talks between the US and Iran have continued despite the violence, according to people familiar with the diplomacy, with Qatar playing an increasingly important role as mediator. One person said both sides are using military exchanges to seek leverage in negotiations.<\/p>\n
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Trump said he spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the leaders of the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Kuwait, and planned to speak with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Iran was notably absent from an earlier list of countries that Trump claimed had agreed to a deal framework.<\/p>\n
In a statement about the call, Netanyahu\u2019s office said \u201cthe prime minister expressed his appreciation for President Trump\u2019s commitment that the final agreement at the conclusion of negotiations will include the removal of enriched material, the dismantling of enrichment infrastructure, limits on missile production, and the cessation of Iran\u2019s support for its terrorist proxies in the region.\u201d<\/p>\n
Earlier Thursday, Trump threatened to seize Kharg Island, a crucial Iranian energy hub, a move that would likely require US ground troops. He quickly expressed reservations, telling Fox News he was \u201cnot sure America has the appetite\u201d for such an operation.<\/p>\n
The president added in his earlier social media post that the US naval blockade of Iran \u201cwill remain in full force and effect until this Transaction is finalised.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a9 2026 Bloomberg<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
#Trump #insists #Iran #deal #close #scrapping #strikes<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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