Washington: US President Donald Trump said that a deal to end the war with Iran is nearly complete and is expected to be signed over the weekend in Europe.
Trump made these remarks at the Oval Office in the White House on Thursday afternoon, hours after calling off military strikes on Iran and threatening to take control of its oil industry.
Trump said Vice President J D Vance is expected to attend the signing ceremony, which could take place in Europe as soon as this weekend.
President Trump claimed that the United States had “ended the war” with Iran today, after asserting earlier that the two sides had agreed to a “very strong memorandum of understanding” to stop the fighting.
“I don’t know if you heard, but we ended the war with Iran today,” President Donald Trump said on a telerally supporting Georgia Lt. Governor Burt Jones, who is running for governor. “They have agreed never to have a nuclear weapon, something that we insisted on; that was the whole purpose. That was 95 percent of it.”
The statement from Trump cam after he canceled further strikes on Iran earlier today, suggesting on Truth Social an agreement had been reached without detailing its terms.
Iran has not confirmed any agreement has been reached, and Trump said in the social media post that the US blockade of ships going exiting or entering Iranian ports would continue until “this Transaction is finalized.”
Despite Trump’s pronouncement, Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson has said the country has not yet reach a final decision on any agreement, according to state media. The spokesperson said reports of a deal were “merely speculation.”
Trump vowed earlier Thursday to take Kharg Island, which handles roughly 90% of Iran’s crude exports. Tehran said it targeted US bases in the region overnight for a second consecutive day, following US strikes across Iran.
