WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump said on Friday that Iran’s leaked comments on a deal with the United States do not represent what has been agreed to in writing.
“What they said, including their weak and pathetic statement on having a deal, bears no relation to the truth. Very dishonorable people to deal with. With them, there is no such thing as dealing in good faith. AMAZING!,” he wrote on Truth Social.
“They better get their act together, and FAST!,” Trump said.
Trump said on Thursday he was calling off new strikes on Iran because a deal had been reached.
Terms of the deal as described on Friday by Iranian officials appear to offer Tehran much of what it has demanded so far, with Trump appearing to win little of what he has sought, beyond the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran shut after he ordered attacks in February.
A senior Iranian source told Reuters on Friday that the draft would waive sanctions on Iran’s oil, unfreeze billions of dollars of its funds, and require a cessation of hostilities on all fronts, including in Lebanon.
Nuclear issues would be set aside for later talks. Washington wants a deal to ensure that Iran never develops a nuclear weapon; Iran says it is not seeking one.
The waiving of sanctions, unfreezing of Iranian assets and halt to Israeli attacks on Lebanon are essential Iranian demands. The source made no mention of what Iran might offer in return.
Iran’s state media said Friday that under the draft agreement, Tehran would not give up control over the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
“Iran makes no commitment in this text to cede the management of the strait or the restoration of conditions that existed prior to the American and Israeli military aggression,” according to the official IRNA news agency, which referred to “the broad outlines of the current text” being finalized.
Traffic through Hormuz, a vital global shipping route, has come under Iranian control since the outbreak of war with the United States and Israel on February 28.
Iran, which has only allowed a trickle of ships to pass through the strait, has insisted that vessels obtain permission from its armed forces before transiting.
‘Misinformation’
US Vice President JD Vance on Friday played down reports on the potential Iran deal, saying that Tehran would not receive any cash and no funds would be released “for simply signing a deal or attending a meeting.”
In a post on X, Vance said the deal had been structured so that Iran would only gain economic benefits if it met “its obligations.”
He also hit back at critics in an apparent swipe at Republican lawmakers and commentators who have publicly criticized US President Donald Trump’s pursuit of a deal
“People who (rightly) said Donald Trump was a historic president a month ago now criticizing a deal based on unconfirmed media reports,” Vance said. “The president is going to get us a good outcome, one way or the other,” he added.
‘Next steps’
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Friday that the final text of a US-Iran peace deal had been agreed.
“We can confirm that a final, agreed upon text of the peace deal has been reached and Pakistan is now working closely with both sides to finalize the next steps,” Sharif posted on X.
He tagged both the US and Iranian presidents and other leaders from both countries. Pakistan has been mediating between the two sides for months.
“Peace has never been as close as it is now,” Sharif said.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi insisted on Friday that a deal with the United States to end the war in the Middle East had never been closer, after US President Donald Trump furiously accused Tehran of negotiating in bad faith.
“Amid ongoing intense mediation efforts by Pakistan, we are fully aware of incessant misinformation campaign being waged by those who want to sabotage the peace deal,” Sharif added.
