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President Donald Trump said a proposed agreement with Iran could be signed within days, possibly in Europe, after he canceled scheduled U.S. strikes and said Tehran’s leadership had approved the deal.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
President Donald Trump said June 11 that the United States is close to finalizing a deal with Iran, hours after he called off planned evening strikes against Tehran.
“We just made a great settlement of the war with Iran,” Trump said at the start of an Oval Office event. “And we’re going to be, subject to finalization of documents, which should get done over the next few days, probably have a signing, maybe in Europe.”
Trump said it was his understanding that Iran’s supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, had approved the agreement.
The president said Vice President JD Vance would attend the signing in his place if the agreement is completed. Trump said he plans to be at a UFC fight scheduled for Sunday at the White House.
Iran said the signing would be held in Europe, according to the submitted report.
The announcement followed a volatile day in which Trump first warned that the United States would strike Iran, then later said he canceled the planned strikes because the proposed deal had reached Iran’s top leadership.
“Based on the fact that discussions with the Islamic Republic of Iran have been brought to the highest level of Iranian leadership and approved, I have, as President of the United States of America, cancelled the scheduled strikes and bombings against Iran this evening,” Trump posted on Truth Social on June 11.
“Discussions and final points have been, in both concept and great detail, approved by all parties involved, including the United States, Israel, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Turkey, Pakistan, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, Egypt, and others. The Naval Blockade will remain in full force and effect until this Transaction is finalized — Time and place of the signing to be announced shortly.”
Earlier in the day, Trump had said the United States would conduct additional strikes against Iran. He also suggested the U.S. could seize Kharg Island, Iran’s key oil export hub, along with other oil infrastructure.
“At some point in the not too distant future, we will be taking Kharg Island, and other oil infrastructure points, and assume total control of their Oil and Gas Markets, much like we have with Venezuela, which is working out brilliantly for both Venezuela and the United States of America,” Trump said.
During the Oval Office event, however, Trump said the operation to take over Kharg Island is off the table for now.
In a Fox News phone interview, Trump had also repeated that the United States could seize Kharg Island, a critical transit point for Iranian oil exports.
“My preference would be that. I don’t know that America has the stomach for it,” he said.
Trump also said “there will be more bombing tonight,” adding that “it’ll be bigger, bigger, more powerful.” He said he would prefer not to strike bridges or power plants at this time.
The United States carried out strikes in Iran on Tuesday and Wednesday after Iran downed a U.S. attack helicopter, according to U.S. officials.
“The strikes are in response to Iran’s unwarranted and continued aggression,” U.S. Central Command said in a statement.
Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the American strikes on June 11, saying the attacks violated international law and effectively destroyed the ceasefire.
“The United States’ illegal and criminal attacks in recent hours are not only a blatant violation of the Charter of the United Nations, international law, and the principles of respect for the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of states, but have also effectively rendered meaningless the ceasefire,” the ministry said.
Negotiations to end the war, which began Feb. 28, have continued amid the fighting.
Iran is seeking the release of frozen overseas assets, with the money transferred directly to Tehran. Iranian officials are also calling for an end to Israeli military operations in Lebanon, removal of sanctions on Iran and international acknowledgment of Iran’s authority over the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump has said Iran must stop interfering with shipping through the strait and that any agreement must prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Iran has continued to deny that it seeks nuclear weapons.
Speaking to Fox News on Thursday, Trump said discussions between Washington and Tehran were still ongoing.
The president has previously said several times in recent weeks that the United States and Iran were close to a deal, though no agreement had been finalized.
U.S. stocks rose after Trump’s latest announcement. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed nearly 750 points, or 1.5%. The S&P 500 rose 1.1%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite gained 1.5%.
The market reaction reflected investor hopes that a deal could reduce tensions, keep the Strait of Hormuz open and ease pressure on global oil prices after weeks of military escalation.
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