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Iran said Friday that it has not reached a final decision on a deal to end the Middle East war, despite U.S. President Donald Trump claiming an agreement could be signed within days and announcing he had cancelled planned strikes on the country.
Trump's remarks boosted stock markets and pushed oil prices lower, fueling renewed optimism that a diplomatic breakthrough may be near in the conflict triggered by U.S.-Israeli strikes in February.
Claiming that negotiations had been "brought to the highest level of Iranian leadership and approved," Trump said he had "cancelled the scheduled strikes and bombings against Iran this evening."
"Time and place of the signing to be announced shortly," he added.
Trump also said the final elements of the arrangement had been approved by the United States and its regional allies, including Israel.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei, however, said Tehran had not finalized any agreement.
"We have not reached a final conclusion on the agreement," Baghaei said, adding that while most of the text had been completed, "the problem began when the U.S. side made new demands and changed its positions."
Iran's Tasnim news agency also cast doubt on Trump's announcement, noting that he had declared a deal to be imminent dozens of times over the previous two months.
"Until Iran announces the matter of a potential understanding, any news from Trump on this subject should be regarded the same as his previous messaging," the agency said.
Later on Friday, Trump reiterated his confidence, telling reporters, "I understand the answer is yes," when asked whether Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei had approved the proposed deal.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said the Israeli leader also spoke with Trump, who assured him that any memorandum of understanding would include the removal of Iran's enriched nuclear material and the dismantling of missile infrastructure.
The conflict began on Feb. 28 with a wave of U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran and was temporarily halted by a ceasefire that took effect in April. However, negotiations aimed at securing a permanent settlement have repeatedly stalled.
Trump's latest announcement suggested that behind-the-scenes mediation by countries including Pakistan and Qatar may have made progress, despite his earlier warning that the United States would strike Iran "very hard tonight."
In a social media post, Trump said that discussions and final points have been, "in both concept and great detail," approved by all parties involved, including the United States, Israel and Gulf states.
Egypt urged both Washington and Tehran to seize what it described as an opportunity to reach a deal and end the conflict.
Just a day earlier, however, Trump had threatened to intensify U.S. airstrikes and seize control of Iran's oil export facilities on Kharg Island.
Meanwhile, Kuwait reported that Iranian attacks had damaged the airport's radar infrastructure and forced a temporary closure of its airspace.
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Earlier Friday, Iranian General Ali Abdollahi warned that any renewed U.S. attack would provoke an even stronger response.
"If the United States attacks, it will receive a harsher response than before, and the flames of war, in addition to creating insecurity in the region, will become more widespread and far-reaching," he said.
Despite renewed diplomatic activity, many Iranians expressed skepticism about the prospects for peace.
"I am absolutely not optimistic about the agreement being finalized, because the gap between the two countries is too wide," said Majid, a 35-year-old pharmacist in Tehran, citing both Israel's role and hardline positions within Iran.
Iran has also renewed warnings over the Strait of Hormuz, a vital corridor for global oil and gas shipments that it has effectively closed since the early stages of the conflict.
Iran's newly established authority overseeing the strategic waterway said the strait "will be closed until further notice."
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