US President Donald Trump dismissed recent leaked comments attributed to Iran regarding a potential deal, saying they did not reflect any officially agreed terms. On Friday, Trump criticized Iran’s statements as misleading and indicated frustration with Tehran’s approach to the negotiations, urging them to act more swiftly.
The developments come amid ongoing efforts to negotiate a memorandum of understanding (MoU) intended to end the conflict in the Gulf region, which erupted after a series of US-Israeli strikes began on February 28, including an assault that killed Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei. The fighting had paused under a truce reached in April, but attempts to formalize a permanent resolution have yet to succeed.
According to multiple Western sources, Pakistani mediators, and senior Iranian officials, a draft version of the MoU has circulated. The Iranian official news agency IRNA reported that following a prospective signing of the MoU, nuclear talks between Iran and the United States would commence within 60 days. The report also emphasized that under current conditions, Iran would not accept new commitments regarding its nuclear program.
A senior Iranian contact provided details to Reuters about the potential deal, saying it would entail the lifting of sanctions on Iranian oil, the unfreezing of billions of dollars in Iranian assets, and a requirement to halt hostilities on all fronts, including in Lebanon. Despite these developments, the Iranian Foreign Ministry indicated ongoing reservations. Spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei stated that Tehran had not reached a final decision, noting that while most of the agreement's text had been finalized, progress stalled after the US introduced new demands and shifted its positions.
The uncertainty surrounding the talks intensified as Trump, just a day prior, had announced plans to increase US airstrikes on Iran and seize Kharg Island, a key oil export facility in the Gulf. Following that announcement, Trump reversed course on Thursday, saying a deal could be imminent and halting planned strikes.
In response to the escalating tensions, Iranian General Ali Abdollahi warned that any US aggression would provoke a harsher and more widespread response, further destabilizing the region. Meanwhile, the delay of the former supreme leader’s funeral until late June or early July was announced by Tehran’s mayor, signaling continued sensitivity to internal developments.
The international community expressed calls for restraint and diplomatic progress. Egypt urged both sides to capitalize on what it described as an “available opportunity” to secure a deal and end the conflict.
On the ground in Tehran, civilians expressed concern about the ongoing instability. Majid, a 35-year-old pharmacist, described the economic impact of the fighting as severely disruptive to everyday life, reflecting the broader humanitarian toll amid the continuing uncertainty.