Summary: Iran disputes Trump assertion on nearing peace agreement

Hello and welcome to continuing coverage of the Middle East crisis.

Iran foreign ministry has disputed statements by Donald Trump suggesting a peace accord between Washington and Tehran might be finalized this weekend.

Such an agreement would mark a major diplomatic step to conclude the three-month conflict that has claimed many lives and driven up worldwide energy costs. Yet Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei noted that although substantial sections of the negotiating text are settled, a final conclusion remains absent.

This represents a critical matter now under review by relevant decision-making bodies, Baghaei stated, while emphasizing that Tehran will uphold its red lines.

Trump informed reporters at the White House: We have achieved a great settlement regarding the war with Iran.

The strait will officially open once we sign, which could occur soon, very soon, perhaps over the weekend in Europe, he added, noting vice-president JD Vance might sign on behalf of the US.

Trump has asserted multiple times since mid-March that an accord with Iran to halt the war was near, yet none has emerged.

In other key developments:

Trump indicated he was halting a third day of US airstrikes and bombings previously announced, citing discussions with Iran that reached the highest Iranian leadership levels and gained approval. He also posted on social media that discussions and final points have been approved in concept and detail by all involved parties, including the United States, Israel, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Turkey, Pakistan, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, Egypt, and others.

Israel stated it was not a party to what prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu office called an emerging memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran. The office noted Netanyahu had conferred with Trump and that any final agreement would require removal of enriched material, dismantling of enrichment infrastructure, limits on missile production, and an end to Iran support for its regional proxies, positions long opposed by Iran.
The strait of Hormuz would open as soon as we sign the documents of the great settlement with Iran, Trump said. The whole Middle East is happy.
Iranian media reported that national forces halted a violating tanker from entering the strait of Hormuz. The account from the Fars news agency, tied to Iran Revolutionary Guards, followed reports of explosions near the port city of Bandar Abbas.
Trump had posted on social media that the US would seize Iran Kharg Island in the not too distant future, but later clarified the action would be dropped if the agreement is signed.
Oil prices climbed after Trump warned of a very hard attack on Iran, then fell sharply once he announced cancellation of the strikes. US West Texas Intermediate crude futures dropped 1.9 percent to 86.08 dollars a barrel, following a 2.6 percent overnight decline, while Brent fell 1.5 percent to 89.08 dollars a barrel after nearly 3 percent overnight losses. Asian stocks rose in a global rally, with South Korea Kospi gaining 7.4 percent and Japan Nikkei advancing 2.7 percent.
A strike injured 10 staff members at a hospital in the Lebanese city of Tyre on Thursday, according to the facility director via the AFP news agency, amid ongoing Israeli raids in southern areas. All three historic city hospitals have suffered hits since the latest war between Iran-backed Hezbollah and Israel began in early March.
India government issued a strong protest after three Indian seafarers died in US military strikes on oil tankers passing through the strait of Hormuz.

Key events

27m agoUS-Iran memorandum of understanding includes end to war in Lebanon - report
2h agoSummary: Iran contradicts Trump claim to be on verge of peace deal

Donald Trump has asserted the US conducted a secret mission in the strait of Hormuz to assist Gulf petrostates in circumventing Iran control over oil flows, which has disrupted global energy markets for months.

The US president claimed Iran remained unaware that dozens of tankers had been guided out of the blocked channel at night with transmitters disabled.

He posted on his Truth Social platform that 200 vessels escaped this way, carrying over 100m barrels of oil to global buyers.

So what is actually occurring? Jillian Ambrose and Joanna Partridge explain here:

US-Iran memorandum of understanding includes end to war in Lebanon - report

Taz Ali

Iran semi-official Mehr news agency released a list of terms reportedly included in the draft memorandum of understanding with the US. It references a source close to the Iranian negotiating team, though details lack public confirmation from Tehran or Washington. The report indicates the text awaits finalization by Iranian leadership.

According to the report, the draft contains 14 points:

Permanent and immediate cessation of war on all fronts, including Lebanon.
The US commitment to non-interference in Iran internal affairs and respect for its sovereignty.
Lifting of US naval blockade within 30 days.
Withdrawal of US forces from around Iran.
Reopening the strait of Hormuz within 30 days with Iranian arrangements.
Suspension of US sanctions on Iranian oil.
US and allies to prepare reconstruction plans for Iran worth at least 300bn dollars.
Sixty days of negotiations to reach a final agreement based on nuclear issues and the complete lifting of sanctions.
Reiterating Iran commitment not to produce nuclear weapons.
During the negotiations, the US will not increase its forces in the region or impose new sanctions.
Release 24bn dollars in blocked Iranian funds.
Establishing a monitoring mechanism to implement the agreement.
Final agreement to be approved by a UN security council resolution.
The final negotiations will not begin before the release of half of Iran frozen funds, the suspension of oil sanctions and the lifting of the naval blockade. Discussions about Iran missile programme and support for resistance groups have been definitively removed from the agenda.

Israel has previously indicated it would continue its ground operation in southern Lebanon despite a ceasefire agreed in April that has largely collapsed. The Israeli military has seized large areas as it seeks to dismantle Hezbollah, Iran most powerful armed proxy in the region. Reports on ongoing discussions to end the war suggest a potential deal between the US and Iran depends on developments in Israel war in Lebanon, with Hezbollah demanding Israeli troop withdrawal from the country.

American news outlet Axios reported that four US air force planes departed for Europe to prepare for a possible signing ceremony between the US and Iran on a deal to end the war.

The planes are reportedly heading to Geneva where US vice-president JD Vance is expected to sign on Washington behalf, according to Axios, citing sources familiar with the preparations.

While Donald Trump claimed a deal could be signed as soon as this weekend, Iran said it has not yet made a final decision.

Summary: Iran contradicts Trump claim to be on verge of peace deal

Hello and welcome to the Guardian continuing coverage of the crisis in the Middle East.

Iran foreign ministry has contradicted claims from Donald Trump that a peace deal between Washington and Tehran could be signed as soon as this weekend.

The deal, if confirmed, would be the most significant diplomatic breakthrough yet to end the three-month-old war, which has killed thousands and sent global energy prices sharply higher. But Iran foreign ministry spokesperson, Esmaeil Baghaei, has said that while large parts of the text under negotiation have been finalised, a final conclusion has not been reached.

This is a very important issue that is currently being reviewed by the relevant decision-making bodies, Baghaei said, adding that Tehran would not compromise on its red lines.

Trump told reporters at the White House: We just made a great settlement of the war with Iran.

The strait will officially open as soon as we sign, which could be soon, very soon, maybe over the weekend in Europe, he said, adding that vice-president JD Vance could sign for the US.

Since mid-March, Trump has repeatedly claimed a deal with Iran to end the war was close, but no agreement has materialised.

In other key developments:

Trump said he was cancelling a third day of US airstrikes and bombings that he had earlier said would happen because discussions with Iran have been brought to the highest level of Iranian leadership and approved. He also said on social media: 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.

Israel, however, said it was not a party to what prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu office described as an emerging memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran. But the office said Netanyahu had spoken with Trump and that the final agreement at the conclusion of negotiations would include the removal of enriched material, the dismantling of enrichment infrastructure, limits on missile production, and the cessation of Iran support for its terrorist proxies in the region, measures that have been red lines for Iran in the past.
The strait of Hormuz would open as soon as we sign the documents of the great settlement reached with Iran, Trump said. The whole Middle East is happy.
Iranian media said the country forces had stopped a violating tanker from entering the strait of Hormuz. The report from the Fars news agency, closely linked to Iran Revolutionary Guards, came shortly after the sound of explosions were reportedly heard near the port city of Bandar Abbas.
Trump had earlier posted on social media that the US would seize Iran Kharg Island in the not too distant future, but later said the seizure would be off the table if we sign this agreement.
The price of oil rose after Trump threatened a very hard attack on Iran, but plunged hours later after he said he was cancelling the strikes. US West Texas Intermediate crude futures fell 1.9 percent to 86.08 dollars a barrel, on top of a 2.6 percent drop overnight, and Brent dropped 1.5 percent to 89.08 dollars a barrel, having fallen nearly 3 percent overnight. Asian stocks joined a global rally, with South Korea Kospi surging 7.4 percent and Japan Nikkei up 2.7 percent.
A strike wounded 10 staff members of a hospital in the Lebanese city of Tyre on Thursday, the facility director told the AFP news agency, as Israeli raids continued in the country south. All three of the historic city hospitals have been hit since the start of the latest war between Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah and Israel in early March.
India government voiced a strong protest after three Indian seafarers were killed in US military strikes against oil tankers travelling through the strait of Hormuz.