US cancels planned strikes on Iran amid conflicting reports over peace deal status
Washington retreats from military escalation following threats to seize oil infrastructure, as Iran’s semi-official media contradicts US claims of a signed accord.
President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that the United States would not proceed with new military strikes on Iran, marking a significant de-escalation from previous threats to strike the nation “very hard” and seize control of its oil infrastructure, specifically Kharg Island. Trump stated that the decision followed high-level discussions with Iranian leadership and cited the approval of “final points” in an initial peace deal. He indicated that details regarding a signing ceremony would be announced shortly.
The announcement comes after a period of heightened tension, including Iran’s military command declaring the Strait of Hormuz closed to all vessel traffic on Thursday morning. This declaration followed Iranian strikes on two vessels and recent US airstrikes in southern Iran. US Central Command subsequently denied the closure of the waterway, asserting that commercial ships continue to transit the strategic route.
Despite the US president’s assertion that diplomatic progress had been made, Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency reported that Tehran had not approved the text of any agreement. This contradiction highlights the uncertainty surrounding the status of the negotiations, with conflicting accounts emerging from Washington and Tehran regarding the existence of a formalised deal.
Since mid-March, Trump has repeatedly claimed that a deal to end the war was imminent. The cancellation of the planned strikes represents a pivot from earlier warnings, yet the lack of mutual confirmation on the agreement’s text suggests that the diplomatic situation remains fragile. The exact details and timing of the proposed signing ceremony remain unconfirmed, with Trump only stating they would be announced “shortly”.
The divergent narratives from US and Iranian sources underscore the complexities of the ongoing negotiations. While the US administration points to progress in extending a fragile ceasefire, the absence of an approved text from Tehran leaves the outcome of the diplomatic efforts in question. FRANCE 24 reporters Carys Garland and Monte Francis provided reporting on these developments.
