Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Iran said Thursday that negotiations with the United States have produced a draft agreement that is largely complete, but insisted no final deal has been reached, contradicting President Donald Trump’s assertion that a settlement could be signed within days.
Speaking to Iran’s state-affiliated Mehr News Agency, Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said the text of a potential agreement had been finalized in most major areas but remained under review by Iranian authorities before any decision could be approved.
“Textually, the text has almost been finalized in its major parts,” Baghaei said. “The problem is that the contradictory positions of the United States have always caused turbulence and disruption in this process.”
His comments came hours after Trump announced what he described as a “great settlement” to end the conflict with Iran, saying he expected an agreement to be signed in Europe as early as this weekend. The US president provided few details about the proposed arrangement, and Iranian officials offered no confirmation that a final deal had been reached.
Baghaei dismissed reports suggesting negotiations had already concluded, stressing that Iran’s political and security institutions must first review the text before any official approval is granted.
The spokesman said Iran had participated in the talks in good faith while accusing Washington of repeatedly changing its positions during negotiations and introducing demands Tehran considers unacceptable.
He also accused the United States and Israel of violating a ceasefire announced in April, alleging that recent US military strikes targeted infrastructure in southern Iran, including water facilities in Sirik.
“While they speak of diplomacy and negotiations, they simultaneously resort to force, illegal actions, and criminal behavior,” Baghaei said.
Iran has repeatedly maintained that it will not compromise on what it describes as its core national interests, and Baghaei said Tehran had demonstrated both diplomatically and militarily that it would not negotiate under pressure.
“Iran has proven in practice that its red lines are the interests and welfare of the Iranian nation, and there will be absolutely no compromise in this regard,” he said.
The spokesman also addressed tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important shipping routes, blaming the United States for escalating instability in the waterway through military operations.
Baghaei referred to reports that Iranian armed forces had announced the closure of the strategic strait following US strikes on facilities in southern Iran and attacks on commercial shipping vessels. He said Iran had acted responsibly to preserve maritime security while issuing warnings to ships operating in the area.
“The sole reason for this situation is America’s illegal and aggressive actions,” he said.
Despite the sharp rhetoric, Baghaei indicated that negotiations remain active and that Tehran has not closed the door on an agreement.
“The relevant authorities must review every detail of the text,” he said. “As soon as we reach a final conclusion that serves the interests of the Iranian nation, it will be officially announced.”
The conflicting messages from Washington and Tehran underscore the uncertainty surrounding efforts to secure a formal agreement, even as both sides signal that negotiations may be approaching a decisive stage.
