Desk : US President Donald Trump on Friday dismissed media reports suggesting that Washington and Tehran were close to signing a peace agreement, accusing Iran of misrepresenting the terms of ongoing negotiations and acting in bad faith.
The development came amid heightened tensions in the Gulf region following attacks on commercial vessels near the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, which reportedly resulted in the deaths of three Indian seafarers.
Speaking at the United Nations headquarters in New York, Stéphane Dujarric, Chief Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, condemned the attack on the commercial tanker MT Settebello and expressed support for the position taken by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).
“That is an attack that was clearly condemned by the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organisation, and we fully support and second that language,” Dujarric said.
Meanwhile, reports from several international media outlets suggested that a memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran could soon be signed in Geneva, Switzerland. The proposed agreement reportedly includes a 60-day ceasefire across multiple regional fronts, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz without additional transit charges, and a framework for future negotiations on Iran’s nuclear programme.
However, Trump strongly rejected those reports in a post on Truth Social, claiming that the details leaked by Iran did not reflect the actual terms discussed between the two sides.
“The terms that Iran leaked out to the Fake News have NOTHING to do with the terms that were agreed to, in writing,” Trump wrote. “What they said, including their weak and pathetic statement on having a deal, bears no relation to the truth.”
The US President further accused Iran’s leadership of negotiating dishonestly and questioned Tehran’s commitment to reaching a genuine agreement.
“Very dishonourable people to deal with. With them, there is no such thing as dealing in good faith,” he said.
Trump also alleged that Iran was responsible for a drone attack targeting vessels carrying Indian seafarers near the Strait of Hormuz. He described the incident as “totally unacceptable” and warned Tehran to “get their act together, and fast.”
His remarks came despite reports that the US Central Command had earlier stated that the strikes in question were carried out by American naval forces, adding another layer of confusion to the circumstances surrounding the incident.
According to reports cited by CNN, the proposed US-Iran agreement would seek to restore maritime security in the Gulf by ensuring uninterrupted movement of commercial shipping, energy supplies, and international maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. The arrangement would also aim to gradually return shipping activity in the region to pre-conflict levels within 30 days of the agreement’s signing.
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most critical energy corridors, handling a significant portion of global oil and gas shipments. Any disruption to navigation through the waterway has immediate implications for international trade, energy markets, and regional stability.
As diplomatic efforts continue, uncertainty remains over whether Washington and Tehran can bridge their differences and move forward with a formal agreement. The latest exchange of accusations has once again highlighted the fragile nature of relations between the two long-standing adversaries.