WASHINGTON — We have a deal.
President Trump canceled impending US strikes and a purported plan to storm Iran’s Kharg Island Thursday, telling The Post that an agreement between Washington and Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and begin nuclear negotiations was “all wrapped up.”
“Based on the fact that discussions with the Islamic Republic of Iran have been brought to the highest level of Iranian leadership and approved, I have, as President of the United States of America, cancelled the scheduled strikes and bombings against Iran this evening,” he said on Truth Social.
“Discussions and final points have been, in both concept and great detail, approved by all parties involved, including the United States, Israel, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Turkey, Pakistan, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, Egypt, and others.”
Trump’s announcement came after The Post reported Iran had submitted a final draft of a prospective agreement to Qatari mediators Wednesday night.
“It’s pretty much all wrapped up,” the president told The Post in a brief phone call.
Details of the new agreement were not immediately unavailable, but Trump indicated that the US would lift its nearly two-month-old blockade of Iranian ports once the deal is signed — something Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said would only happen if Iran reopened the Strait of Hormuz.
“Naval Blockade will remain in full force and effect until this Transaction is finalized,” Trump said on Truth Social, adding that an in-person signing ceremony would happen at a “time and place … to be announced shortly.”
Iran finalized its latest draft of a proposed agreement with the US as missiles whizzed back and forth between the two belligerents, submitting it to Qatari intermediaries to pass on to Washington, US and regional sources familiar with mediations told The Post on Thursday.
“The text of the agreement was completed and finalized on Wednesday evening,” according to a regional source familiar with Iranian leadership. “Doha has been in contact with both Iran and the United States to facilitate the agreement.”
“If final approval is granted, the implementation process of the understanding will begin,” the person added.
US forces pounded Iran’s coasts overnight, targeting missile and radar systems in retaliation for the Islamic Republic downing an American Apache helicopter over the Strait of Hormuz Monday night.
Trump threatened Thursday morning to invade Kharg Island, a hub of Iranian oil refinement, if Tehran still refused to make a deal.
In addition to Qatar, Pakistan has been facilitating most communications between Washington and Tehran as both sides try to develop a memorandum of understanding to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and begin nuclear negotiations.
Trump has previously said a deal signing or future in-person negotiations could take place in Pakistan, thanks to Islamabad’s extensive work on the deal. He has a cozy relationship with the country’s Field Marshal Asim Munir, who has been engaged in shuttle diplomacy, passing messages between Tehran and Washington.
Other locations previously suggested for a signing ceremony include Turkey, Switzerland and Qatar.
