Trump says US-Iran preliminary deal to be signed tomorrow, contradicting Iranian officials

US President Donald Trump announced on the social media platform Truth Social on June 14 that a preliminary agreement aimed at ending the US-Israel war with Iran was expected to be signed on June 15. However, this statement contradicted earlier remarks by Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei.

According to Iran's IRNA news agency, Baghaei said the memorandum would not be signed Sunday, and negotiators had no immediate plans to travel to Geneva, Switzerland for such an event. Baghaei said signing could take place in coming days.

A few hours later, Trump wrote: "The deal is expected to be signed tomorrow, and immediately after signing, the Strait of Hormuz will BE OPEN TO ALL." Sunday also marks Trump's 80th birthday.

In recent days, Iran and the United States have repeatedly contradicted each other when describing details of the expected agreement, although both sides have indicated a deal is closer than ever. However, no terms have been officially released, with US and Iranian officials stressing that the deal has not been finalized.

Beyond opening the Strait of Hormuz, Trump indicated the deal would be "A NUCLEAR WEAPON WALL!" and that "no cash will be exchanged." Trump also stated that "at the right time, when everything is quiet, we will go in and take the Nuclear Dust," alluding to Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium.

But in an interview with Iran's Press TV on June 13, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the initial memorandum was only a starting point for future negotiations on Iran's nuclear program. He added that signing would lead to an immediate ceasefire, but Iran and Oman would continue to manage the Strait of Hormuz. The issue of lifting foreign sanctions on Iran and unfreezing its assets would be discussed after the memorandum was signed.

The latest diplomatic moves follow two days of exchanges of attacks between the US and Iran this week, threatening to break a ceasefire in place since April 8. The US and Israel launched their war against Iran on February 28, amid indirect talks on the future of Iran's nuclear program. The US and Israel also waged a 12-day war against Iran in 2025 during another round of nuclear negotiations.

Iranian officials say deep distrust of the US has slowed progress toward a long-term agreement to end the current war. Meanwhile, Trump has repeatedly promised to secure a deal superior to the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), signed under Democratic predecessor Barack Obama.

The JCPOA, from which Trump unilaterally withdrew in 2018, saw Tehran agree to limits on its nuclear program and permit international inspections in exchange for sanctions relief. For years, Iran has maintained it is building its nuclear program solely for civilian purposes and does not seek nuclear weapons.

In his Truth Social post, Trump again promised that any deal reached would be tougher than the JCPOA. He said: "Our relationship with Iran is a different and much better one than with previous administrations." He added: "Hopefully this process will go quickly, easily, and smoothly." "If not, we have the final alternative, hopefully never to be used again!" he wrote, without explaining what his threat meant.