WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump will only agree to a peace deal with Iran if it fully meets his conditions, a White House official told AFP, as uncertainty continues to surround negotiations aimed at ending the conflict that has destabilised the Middle East.
Although the White House had suggested that Trump was nearing a decision on a potential agreement, Tehran maintained that there was still “no final agreement” to end the war. At the same time, Iranian state media challenged several key aspects of Trump’s description of the proposed deal, with sources describing his remarks as a “mixture of truth and lies.”
According to US officials, the agreement has been awaiting Trump’s approval following weeks of difficult negotiations over a conflict that has shaken global markets and disrupted regional stability. Trump attended a two-hour meeting in the White House Situation Room on Friday, but no final decision was reached.
Following the meeting, a White House official told AFP that Trump would only endorse an agreement that serves American interests and satisfies his red lines. The official stressed that Iran must never be allowed to possess a nuclear weapon.
Earlier, Trump announced the Situation Room meeting in a lengthy social media post, once again demanding that Iran permanently abandon any ambition to develop nuclear weapons and reopen the strategically important Strait of Hormuz to international shipping.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei rejected the language used by Washington, telling state media that the Islamic Republic had “said goodbye to the language of ‘must’ 47 years ago.” He added that exchanges of messages between the two sides were continuing but that no final agreement had yet been reached.
Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told the Emir of Qatar during a phone conversation that Iran was prepared to reach a “dignified framework” to bring the conflict to an end, according to the state news agency IRNA.
In his social media post, Trump claimed that Tehran would remove mines from the Strait of Hormuz and end its blockade of the vital waterway without imposing tolls. In return, he said the United States would lift its own blockade on Iranian ports. He further stated that both countries would cooperate in removing and destroying Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile and that no money would change hands “until further notice.”
However, Iran’s state-affiliated Fars News Agency cited sources who disputed several of Trump’s claims. According to those sources, Tehran is demanding the immediate release of $12 billion in frozen Iranian assets before moving forward with the next phase of negotiations.
The same sources also rejected Trump’s claim regarding the toll-free reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, stating that no such provision exists in the proposed agreement. They further described his assertion that Iran’s nuclear material would be destroyed as entirely baseless.
Baqaei also told Iranian state television that there were currently no negotiations taking place regarding Iran’s nuclear programme. At the same time, Iran’s top diplomat suggested that the United States was responsible for slowing progress toward a deal through its handling of the negotiations.
Among ordinary Iranians, uncertainty remains high. Ali, a 49-year-old resident of the northern city of Tonekabon, said both sides appeared to be presenting events in a way that pleased their domestic supporters. He remarked that it was difficult to determine who was telling the truth and predicted that tensions would likely continue regardless of the outcome.
Optimism regarding a possible breakthrough had increased on Thursday after US officials expressed confidence about diplomatic progress. Nevertheless, energy markets have remained volatile throughout the week as investors attempt to assess the likelihood of an agreement that could restore normal shipping through the strategically crucial Strait of Hormuz.
Washington and Tehran have continued to accuse each other of violating the truce in and around the strait. As recently as this week, US strikes on the southern Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas were met with retaliatory Iranian attacks.
Iranian state television reported on Friday that 24 ships had successfully passed through the Strait of Hormuz during the previous 24 hours in coordination with the Revolutionary Guards and the foreign ministry. However, it warned that vessels belonging to hostile countries could face a severe response from Iran’s military.
On another front of the conflict, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Friday that Israeli forces had advanced deeper into Lebanon. At the same time, Hezbollah claimed responsibility for a series of drone attacks targeting military positions in northern Israel, including troop concentrations and military barracks.
Hezbollah also stated that its fighters were attacking Israeli forces attempting to advance near the historic Beaufort fortress in southern Lebanon, close to the city of Nabatieh.
The attacks occurred as Israeli and Lebanese military delegations participated in security talks in Washington. The discussions were described as productive by Elbridge Colby, the Pentagon’s second-highest-ranking official.
Meanwhile, Israel continued heavy bombardment across southern Lebanon. According to the Lebanese health ministry, at least 11 people were killed in the latest strikes, including a rescue worker.
A ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah was intended to take effect on April 17 but has never been fully implemented. Both sides have repeatedly accused each other of violating the truce and have justified their military actions by citing alleged breaches by the opposing side.
Lebanon became directly involved in the conflict in early March after Hezbollah launched rockets into Israel following the killing of Iran’s supreme leader in joint US-Israeli attacks. The rocket fire prompted Israeli airstrikes and a subsequent ground offensive inside Lebanon.