Trump Stops Military Strikes On Iran, Claims Breakthrough In Settlement; Tehran Stops Short of Confirmation

US President Donald Trump has announced that he has halted plans for fresh military strikes against Iran, claiming that a significant diplomatic breakthrough has been achieved in efforts to end the conflict. The declaration came only hours after he threatened to escalate the confrontation by targeting Iran's vital oil infrastructure and taking control of its energy markets.

Speaking during an event in the Oval Office on Thursday, Trump said: "We just made a great settlement of the war with Iran." While offering few details, he expressed confidence that an agreement extending the fragile ceasefire currently in place would be finalised within days.

The ceasefire, which has been in effect since April, is seen as a crucial mechanism for preventing a return to full-scale hostilities. An extension would also provide Washington with additional time to negotiate over Iran's nuclear programme, a central issue cited by both the United States and Israel when they launched military operations against Iran on 28 February.

Despite Trump's optimistic assessment, Iranian officials appeared more cautious. Esmail Baghaei, spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry, stated during a live telephone interview on state television that mediators remained actively engaged and that no final agreement had yet been reached, according to a report in AFP.

"The text is mostly finalised," Baghaei said, while noting that inconsistencies in the American position had complicated negotiations. "The contradictions in America's position have caused turbulence to this process."

The announcement followed two days of renewed exchanges between US and Iranian forces, raising fears that the region was on the brink of another major escalation. Earlier on Thursday, Trump struck a markedly different tone, warning on his Truth Social platform that the United States was prepared to strike Iran "very hard" and suggesting Washington could seize control of strategic oil facilities, including those on Kharg Island.

"At some point in the not too distant future, we will be taking Kharg Island, and other oil infrastructure points, and assume total control of their oil and gas markets," he wrote.

One of the principal obstacles in the negotiations remains Iran's nuclear programme. The United States and Israel maintain that Tehran's nuclear activities could ultimately lead to the development of atomic weapons, a claim consistently denied by Iranian authorities, who insist the programme is intended solely for peaceful civilian purposes.

Another critical issue is Iran's influence over the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most strategically important maritime routes. The narrow waterway is a key corridor for global shipments of oil and natural gas, making regional stability a matter of international economic significance.

Meanwhile, Iranian state-affiliated media signalled that Tehran has yet to endorse any formal agreement. The Fars News Agency reported that no draft memorandum of understanding had been approved and suggested Trump's announcement reflected a tactical retreat from previous military threats rather than a genuine diplomatic breakthrough.

Nevertheless, financial markets reacted positively. Global stock indices rose sharply and oil prices fell following Trump's comments, continuing a pattern seen repeatedly throughout the conflict whenever the US president has indicated that a peace deal may be imminent.

Whether the latest developments represent a genuine step towards peace or merely another temporary pause in a volatile conflict remains uncertain.

With inputs from agencies.