Trump Reverses Course on Iran Strikes, Claims Nuclear Deal Is Imminent

President Donald Trump canceled a third consecutive night of airstrikes against Iran on June 11, citing progress in negotiations, and declared that all parties had approved a framework agreement in principle. The reversal came within hours of Trump threatening to launch strikes "VERY HARD TONIGHT" and suggesting the U.S. might seize Iran's primary oil export hub, Kharg Island ^[1][2]. In a Truth Social post, Trump wrote that "discussions with the Islamic Republic of Iran have been brought to the highest level of Iranian leadership and approved," and announced the planned strikes were called off ^[3][4]. The pivot represents at least the 38th time since the war began that Trump has publicly claimed a deal with Iran is imminent, according to a tally compiled by CNN ^[5].

The current conflict traces to Feb. 28, 2026, when the United States and Israel launched coordinated airstrikes against Iran, killing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other senior officials ^[6][7]. Iran responded by closing the Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately 20% of the world's seaborne oil and liquefied natural gas supply passes ^[8][13]. The U.S. and Iran reached a nominal ceasefire on April 8, 2026, but that truce has since unraveled ^[9][10]. The U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports, operating under CENTCOM authority and enforced by more than 15,000 troops and 200 aircraft and warships, has been in place since April 13 ^[11][12]. Congressional attempts to halt military operations under the War Powers Resolution have failed; the administration has argued the April ceasefire reset the 60-day statutory clock that would otherwise require congressional authorization ^[18].

Trump said Thursday afternoon, speaking in the Oval Office, that a signing could occur "maybe over the weekend" in Europe, and that Vice President JD Vance would represent the U.S. at the ceremony ^[14][3]. He described nuclear terms as agreed to "conceptually," declining to specify what those commitments entail ^[13][14]. Trump said he believed Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei had personally approved the deal, telling reporters "I understand the answer is yes" when asked directly ^[7][3]. The U.S. naval blockade, Trump stated, would remain in force until a final agreement is signed ^[10][4]. According to Trump's post, the signatories on the broader framework include Israel, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Turkey, Pakistan, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, Egypt, and others ^[5].

Key details remain unresolved and contested. Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Thursday that Tehran remains firm on its "red lines" and has not finalized any agreement ^[10][12]. A Qatari-brokered effort to narrow the gaps on three core issues, including the release of frozen Iranian assets, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and the structure of nuclear talks during a potential 60-day ceasefire extension, remained ongoing as of Thursday ^[7][3]. Sources cited by Axios told the Jerusalem Post that Iranian officials told several countries Thursday that, while an agreement had been approved in principle, Supreme Leader Khamenei had not yet given final sign-off ^[3]. Outstanding sticking points include the mechanism for releasing approximately $100 billion in frozen Iranian assets globally and the scope of constraints on Iran's nuclear enrichment program ^[10][1].

The administration's Kharg Island threat, the most aggressive posture floated during the conflict, collapsed within the same news cycle. Trump posted Thursday morning that the U.S. would "at some point in the not too distant future" take the island and "assume total control of their Oil and Gas Markets," drawing an analogy to U.S. policy toward Venezuela ^[5][2]. Kharg Island, located roughly 15 miles off Iran's coast in the Persian Gulf, accounts for more than 90% of Iran's oil exports ^[4][6]. In a Fox News interview shortly after the social media post, Trump said that seizing Kharg had "always been" his preference but that he was not sure "America has the stomach for it" ^[1][4]. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine traveled to the White House to discuss military options, and Trump canceled the strikes shortly after that meeting ^[2][5]. By the afternoon, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that the Kharg Island plan was off the table, conditionally, "if we sign this agreement" ^[4].

Israel's posture adds a further complication. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office confirmed he spoke with Trump Thursday and "expressed his appreciation" for certain U.S. commitments, including requirements that Iran remove enriched nuclear material, dismantle enrichment infrastructure, limit missile production, and end support for regional proxies ^[3][4]. But the Prime Minister's office separately stated that Israel is not a party to the memorandum of understanding under development, and Israeli sources told Channel 12 that Israel does not recognize an agreement as having been reached ^[7][3]. Sen. Lindsey Graham welcomed the possibility of a deal but stated publicly that any agreement must be "presented to Congress for review and approval," signaling that even Republican allies will press for legislative review, potentially under the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015 ^[5].