President Donald Trump called off a planned wave of U.S. strikes on Iran on Thursday and told the New York Post that an agreement to end the war was essentially done, declaring the deal “all wrapped up” even as Israeli officials said they were blindsided by the move and Iranian officials flatly denied that any deal existed.

In a Truth Social post announcing the reversal, Trump said he acted “based on the fact that discussions with the Islamic Republic of Iran have been brought to the highest level of Iranian leadership and approved,” adding that final points had been approved in concept and detail by the United States, Israel and other regional allies. He said an official signing ceremony would be announced shortly.

Only hours earlier, Trump had warned that the United States would strike Iran “VERY HARD TONIGHT” and take “total control” of the country’s oil and gas industries, before pivoting to suggest progress in the talks.

The two parties Trump named as signed on quickly complicated the picture. According to reports, Israeli officials were caught off guard by the announcement and had not been told a deal was imminent, a claim consistent with weeks of visible friction between Washington and Jerusalem over the diplomatic track. Vice President JD Vance had described the potential agreement a day earlier as a “home run for the American people,” even if Israel did not like it. In a separate interview, Vance said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had “certainly gotten some things wrong” but remained a good partner, and that where U.S. and Israeli interests diverge, Washington would choose American interests.

Tehran went further, effectively calling the president a liar. Iran did not publicly confirm Trump’s account, and the semi-official Fars news agency, citing a source close to the negotiating team, said Iran had not approved any text for even a preliminary memorandum of understanding. The denial fit a long pattern. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has repeatedly dismissed Trump’s deal claims, calling the administration’s messaging “confusing and contradictory” and saying Iran had received no written proposal. A senior Iranian lawmaker told CNN this month that Tehran does not consider Trump honest about the negotiations.

Markets nonetheless took Trump at his word, at least briefly. Oil prices fell sharply, with Brent crude dropping about 3.6% to roughly $89.73 a barrel and U.S. West Texas Intermediate falling a similar margin to about $86.83. U.S. stocks rose, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average up about 1.7%.

The reversal also fit Trump’s now familiar rhythm. He has repeatedly said a peace deal was only days away even as U.S. forces kept striking Iran, telling reporters this week that an agreement could come in two or three days.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)