Trump says US, Iran close to deal, Tehran yet to confirm

U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday that the United States had "just made a great settlement of the war with Iran," with an agreement expected to be signed "over the next few days," reported Xinhua.

Trump told reporters at the White House that he expected a signing ceremony, attended by Vice President JD Vance, to be held in Europe over the weekend.

He said the documents were in "final shape" and that the deal would be completed "pretty quickly."

Asked if Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei had agreed to the deal, Trump said: "I understand the answer is yes."

While describing the possible deal as "a little conceptual," Trump said it is "a very strong memorandum of understanding" and "something that's going to get done."

Earlier on Thursday, Trump vowed to strike Iran for the third consecutive day but announced hours later that he had cancelled the plan.

Meanwhile, Iran has approved no draft for a preliminary memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the United States on ending the war, the semi-official Fars news agency reported Thursday, citing an informed source close to the Iranian negotiating team.

Minutes later, Fars added on social media platform X that as the United States has accepted Iran's proposed text, "the likelihood of the agreement being approved by Tehran's highest decision-making authorities is relatively high."

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Truth Social earlier in the day that he had canceled scheduled strikes and bombings against Iran on Thursday evening, citing progress in ongoing negotiations with Iran.

Trump, however, noted that the naval blockade will "remain in full force and effect" until a transaction is finalized, adding that the time and place of the signing of the agreement will be announced shortly.

The development came after clashes occurred between Iran and the United States early Thursday for the second consecutive day.

Earlier in the day, the U.S. Central Command said its forces conducted strikes against multiple Iranian targets. In retaliation, Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps said it launched missile attacks on U.S. military bases in Jordan, Kuwait and Bahrain.

Iran and the United States have during the past weeks reportedly exchanged several proposed plans outlining conditions for peace through Pakistan's mediation, and have been working to finalize an MoU aimed at ending the war.

3 Indian seafarers killed in US attack on ship off Oman coast

Three Indian seafarers who had been reported missing after a U.S. attack on a commercial vessel off the coast of Oman have been confirmed dead, India's federal Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal said Thursday.

According to India's foreign ministry, there were 24 Indian crew members onboard the vessel when it came under attack on Wednesday.

India on Wednesday condemned the attack and stated that the attacks on shipping in the region are "deeply worrisome" and termed them a direct result of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

The foreign ministry called for "immediate de-escalation of tensions" and an end to "the targeting of commercial shipping and civilian infrastructure in the region" in a statement.

Reports said India issued a demarche to the U.S. top diplomat in New Delhi.

Blasts heard near S. Iran's Sirik, Bandar Abbas

Two explosions were heard early Friday off the coast of Sirik County in southern Iran's Hormozgan province, Iran's state-run IRIB news agency reported, said Xinhua.

It said the explosions were from the sea and related to the Strait of Hormuz.

There have been no projectile hits or clashes in Sirik so far, it said.

Two blasts were also heard in the port city of Bandar Abbas in Hormozgan, it added.

Meanwhile, Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that the explosions around Sirik may relate to Iranian armed forces' response to "a violation during passage through the Strait of Hormuz."

Trump, Netanyahu discuss Iran negotiations over phone

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump discussed the memorandum of understanding (MoU) being formed with Iran to enter negotiations during a phone call on Thursday evening, read a statement by Netanyahu's office.

According to the statement, while Israel is not a party to the MoU, Netanyahu thanked Trump for his commitment that the final agreement at the end of the negotiations would include removing Iran's enriched material, dismantling its enrichment facilities, limiting its missile production, and ending its support for its regional "terrorist proxies."

Earlier on Thursday, Trump said he had canceled scheduled strikes and bombings against Iran on Thursday evening, citing progress in ongoing negotiations. He also told reporters at the White House on Thursday night that the United States "just made a great settlement of the war with Iran" and an agreement between the two sides should get done in the next few days and might be signed in Europe.

Meanwhile, Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency reported on Thursday night, citing Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei, that Iran has not reached a final conclusion about the agreement.

"The status of the negotiations was clear to us from the outset, and most of the text had already been finalized, but the Americans kept changing their positions," said Baghaei, adding that Iran has proven that it does not compromise on what it has defined as its red lines.

The development came after clashes occurred between Iran and the United States early Thursday for the second consecutive day.

The U.S. Central Command said Thursday that its forces conducted strikes against multiple Iranian targets. In retaliation, Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps said it launched missile attacks on U.S. military bases in Jordan, Kuwait and Bahrain.

Iran and the United States have during the past weeks reportedly exchanged several proposed plans outlining conditions for peace through Pakistan's mediation, and have been working to finalize an MoU aimed at ending the war.