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Trump moved within hours from war language to a claim that a deal is now near signature.
On the eve of the World Cup opening, the U.S. president escalated his rhetoric against Iran. He threatened harsher strikes and said Tehran would pay the price for delaying an agreement that he said would have been good for it.
Then he changed course.
In a Truth Social post, Trump said he had canceled the strikes and bombing planned against Iran that evening.
He said the decision followed discussions with the Islamic Republic that had been elevated to the highest level of Iran’s leadership and approved there. Trump also said the final points had been accepted in principle and in detail by the parties involved, naming the United States, Israel, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Turkey, Pakistan, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, Egypt and others.
The announcement did not end the uncertainty. It widened it.
A senior Gulf source told +ontime that Iran’s supreme leader approved discussions with the U.S. side within the margin of “not compromising the nation’s interests.” The source said Qatar had received the final draft in the form requested by the Trump administration.
The same source said the proposal includes a 60-day truce, the launch of talks on Iran’s nuclear program and the continuation of the naval blockade until the final steps of the agreement are completed.
Oil prices fell sharply after Trump’s announcement, a sign that traders read the move as a temporary reduction in the risk of escalation around the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.
But Tehran has not yet given Trump the confirmation he needs.
Fars cited an Iranian source saying Iran had not approved any document for a memorandum of understanding. In Israel, two officials told i24NEWS they were surprised by Trump’s announcement and were waiting to see what the Iranians publish before judging whether it is accurate.
Details
• Trump said the strikes against Iran were canceled because discussions had reached the highest level of Iranian leadership.
• According to Trump’s post, the naval blockade will remain in full force until the deal is completed.
• Trump said the time and location of the signing would be announced soon.
• Trump told the New York Post that the agreement to begin nuclear negotiations with Iran was “pretty much all wrapped up.”
• A senior Gulf source told +ontime that Qatari diplomat Ali Al-Thawadi, adviser to Qatar’s prime minister for strategic affairs, led intensive talks with the Iranian side until early Wednesday.
• The source said Al-Thawadi remained in contact with the Trump administration even while U.S. strikes were hitting sites in southern Iran, updating Washington on the results of his talks.
• According to the source, Al-Thawadi and the Iranian side reached language that was acceptable to both parties, despite remaining “wording differences” that were later adjusted Wednesday evening.
• The proposal, according to the senior Gulf source who spoke to +ontime, includes the release of restricted Iranian assets, a mechanism for operating navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and a structure for nuclear talks during the truce period.
• The source expected the dispute over “frozen” versus “restricted” funds to remain on the table, saying the difference between the two is significant and will require further negotiation.
• Fars, by contrast, cited an Iranian source denying that Tehran had approved any memorandum of understanding.
• Two Israeli officials told i24NEWS that Israel was surprised by Trump’s announcement and was waiting for Iran’s public position before assessing its accuracy.
What to watch
The key test is money.
If the dispute over “frozen” and “restricted” assets remains unresolved, the financial clause could become the main obstacle to the deal, even if the military language is settled.
Trump wants to appear as the leader who stopped the war and forced the signature. Iran wants to avoid looking as if it signed under fire.
Between those two narratives, Qatar is trying to hold together a track that remains real, but not yet certain.
