Iran Says Peace Deal with US Closer Than Ever Amid Trump’s Accusations
Poinews.com – On Friday, Iran’s foreign minister claimed that a peace agreement with the United States to conclude the Middle East conflict had never been more imminent, despite a fierce rebuke from President Donald Trump. The U.S. leader accused Tehran of negotiating in bad faith, following the release of a detailed analysis by Iranian media outlining the purported terms of the deal.
The breakdown highlighted Iran’s insistence on retaining its right to enrich uranium and maintaining control over the Strait of Hormuz, a vital maritime passage for Gulf oil and gas. However, this position contradicted a senior White House official’s statement, which asserted that Iran had committed to dismantling its nuclear program, eliminating its enriched uranium stockpile, and reopening the strait—without any promise of returning frozen funds until these conditions were met.
Trump’s Dismissal of Iranian Terms
Trump, who had previously hinted at an imminent agreement after weeks of stalled talks following U.S.-Israeli strikes on February 28, abruptly denounced the Iranian account as “lies” on Friday. In a social media post, he wrote:
“The terms that Iran leaked to the Fake News have NOTHING to do with the terms agreed to in writing. What they said, including their weak and pathetic statement on having a deal, bears no relation to the truth.”
He added:
“Very dishonourable people to deal with. They better get their act together, and FAST!”
Pakistan’s Role in Mediation
Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, sought to temper the dispute by stating on social media:
“The Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding has never been closer.”
He urged media restraint from speculating about the deal’s content before its finalization. Trump later shared a screenshot of Araghchi’s message, reinforcing the narrative of progress. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif confirmed that a final text had been reached, with the nation assisting both sides in advancing the agreement.
A ceasefire took effect in April, yet sporadic violence has continued, reigniting concerns over a potential relapse into full-scale war. Trump’s optimism, however, sparked a stock market rally and a decline in oil prices, signaling a shift in economic confidence. The U.S. leader claimed the deal had been approved by “the highest level of Iranian leadership,” and that a signing date would be announced shortly.
Conflicting Views on the Deal’s Scope
Iran’s official news agency, IRNA, reported that the draft would end the war on all fronts, including Lebanon, where Israel has maintained its military presence. The agency emphasized that Iran would push for its right to enrich uranium and manage traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a route it has restricted during the conflict. Meanwhile, Israel stated that any agreement would strip Iran of its enriched nuclear material, a demand Iran’s representatives said was not included in the final terms.
Some Iranians expressed uncertainty about the deal’s implications, fearing it might solidify the regime’s power. A 29-year-old cafe worker, speaking anonymously, said:
“I am not sure how I feel. I don’t know if it will be good or bad for us. The main purpose of this war was for the US to remove the system, and this did not happen. So what does a deal do?”
With the deal’s terms still under negotiation, the path to resolution remains uncertain, as both sides grapple with diverging priorities and lingering distrust. Pakistan’s efforts as a mediator could determine whether the fragile progress holds.
