President Donald Trump has raised hopes of a framework agreement between the United States and Iran which he said could be signed as early as this weekend, but Tehran denied that any deal had been finalized.
"We just made a great settlement of the war with Iran," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Thursday, adding that documents were being prepared and could soon be ready for signing. He said Europe could host the signing ceremony, but did not identify a specific country or location.
Trump later said the deal could be finalized as early as the weekend. He would not be able to attend the signing himself, but Vice President JD Vance could, Trump said. Asked whether Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei had already agreed, Trump said that was his understanding.
Iran's Fars news agency, citing a source linked to Tehran's negotiating team, said no final text had been agreed. Senior Iranian officials did not immediately comment publicly on Trump's remarks.
Trump has repeatedly said that an agreement with Iran was close, but negotiations have previously stalled.
Trump: Deal includes immediate reopening of Strait of Hormuz
According to Trump, the proposed arrangement would include the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and an end to the US naval blockade of Iranian ports. However, he said on his Truth Social network that US restrictions on Iranian shipping and ports would remain in place until a final agreement is reached.
The United States imposed the measures in response to what Washington described as Iran's de facto blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global oil, gas and fertilizer trade.
Earlier, Trump cancelled threatened new military strikes against Iran planned for Thursday evening, saying discussions with Iran "have been brought to the highest level of Iranian leadership and approved."
He had previously warned on Truth Social that US forces could seize Kharg Island, home to Iran's main oil export terminal, and gain "total control" over the country's oil and gas markets.
Israel: Trump gave security assurances on future deal
Israel's government, which is not part of the negotiations, said Washington had assured it that any final agreement would safeguard Israeli security interests. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said Trump had pledged that a deal would require the removal of Iran's enriched uranium stockpile and the dismantling of its uranium enrichment facilities.
According to Netanyahu's office, Trump also said a final accord would limit Iran's missile production and end its support for regional proxy groups, including the Palestinian militant group Hamas and the Shiite militia Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Trump and Netanyahu spoke about an "emerging memorandum of understanding" between the United States and Iran aimed at entering formal negotiations, the Israeli government said.
US and Iranian representatives have spent weeks negotiating a lasting end to the conflict that began with US and Israeli attacks on Iran in late February. A ceasefire agreed more than two months ago has been repeatedly violated by both sides since taking effect.
Iran's nuclear programme remains the central obstacle to a broader settlement. Israel has long argued that Tehran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium could be used to develop a nuclear weapon, a charge Iran denies.
Fars reported that a framework agreement had largely been completed about two weeks ago, but negotiations were paused amid renewed military tensions, including Israeli strikes on Beirut. The agency said mediation by Qatar helped revive the talks on Wednesday.
