President Donald Trump announced Thursday that he called off a third night [1] of planned airstrikes on Iranian targets.
The decision marks a sudden pivot toward diplomacy in a volatile conflict, potentially averting further escalation between the two nations.
Speaking from the Oval Office in Washington, D.C., Trump said that progress in diplomatic talks with Tehran led to the halt of military action [3]. The president said that a deal to end the war was imminent and could be finalized shortly.
"We have called off the strikes. The deal is close and could be signed this weekend," Trump said [1].
While the U.S. administration signaled a breakthrough, Iranian officials provided a different account of the situation. A spokesperson for the Iranian foreign ministry said that reports of an agreement are speculative and nothing has been agreed [2].
The contradiction between the two governments leaves the current status of the negotiations unclear. The U.S. president's decision to cancel the third night [1] of strikes suggests a tactical pause, though the Iranian leadership has not acknowledged the existence of a formal framework for peace.
This development follows a period of heightened tension where military options remained the primary tool of engagement. The prospect of a signed agreement by the weekend remains a central point of contention between the two sides—one claiming a near-term resolution and the other denying any progress.
“"We have called off the strikes. The deal is close and could be signed this weekend."”
The discrepancy between the White House and Tehran highlights the high-stakes nature of the current diplomacy. By publicly announcing the cancellation of airstrikes and the proximity of a deal, the U.S. is utilizing a strategy of public pressure and optimism. However, the Iranian foreign ministry's denial suggests that either critical terms remain unresolved or Tehran is utilizing its own leverage to maintain a position of strength before a final agreement is reached.
