President Donald Trump said he halted a planned U.S. military strike on Iran because diplomatic negotiations were progressing toward a peace agreement [1].

The contradiction between the White House and Tehran highlights the volatile nature of U.S.-Iran relations, where disputed claims of diplomacy can either prevent or provoke military escalation.

According to reports from May 27, 2026, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) responded to these claims by stating that reports of a draft agreement are fabricated [1, 2]. The IRGC said no such deal exists and denied that any negotiations were taking place to reach a framework [1, 2].

Earlier reports from Iranian state TV suggested that a draft framework with the U.S. existed [2]. Those reports indicated the potential agreement included commitments to lift the naval blockade, restore traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, and the withdrawal of U.S. troops [2].

However, the IRGC later dismissed these specific details as false [1]. The organization said the reports were fabricated to protect Iran's strategic position [1].

President Trump said the decision to stop the military strike was intended to allow diplomatic talks to succeed [1]. The White House said some of the reporting regarding the draft deal was fabricated [2].

The disagreement centers on whether a secret channel of communication was established to avoid conflict in the Persian Gulf. While the U.S. administration suggests a path toward peace was emerging, the Iranian military establishment maintains that no such diplomatic progress occurred [1, 2].

“The IRGC called the reports 'fabricated' and said no such draft agreement exists.”

This dispute underscores a significant intelligence or communication gap between Washington and Tehran. If the U.S. halted military action based on perceived diplomatic progress that the IRGC denies, it suggests a misalignment in strategic signaling. The contradiction regarding the naval blockade and troop withdrawals indicates that even if talks occurred, the core demands of both nations remain far apart.