Trump says Iran war ended, peace deal expected this weekend
Vance likely to attend Europe peace deal signing ceremony
Washington — In a dramatic shift from threat to triumph, U.S. President Donald Trump announced Thursday that a deal to end the war with Iran is nearly complete and expected to be signed over the weekend in Europe. The announcement came just hours after he had threatened to launch military strikes against the Gulf nation and even seize control of its oil industry, marking one of the most striking reversals in recent U.S. foreign policy.
Speaking to reporters at the Oval Office on the afternoon of Thursday, June 11, Trump said Vice President J.D. Vance is expected to attend the signing ceremony, which could take place in Europe as soon as this weekend. The president added that he has personally spoken with leaders from several Middle Eastern countries — including Qatar, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, and even Pakistan — regarding the latest round of negotiations, underscoring the broad regional engagement behind the deal.
Later that day, addressing a tele-rally in support of Georgia Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones, who is campaigning to become the state’s governor, Trump declared unequivocally that the war with Iran had ended. “I don’t know if you heard, but we ended the war with Iran today — Thursday — and they have agreed never to have a nuclear weapon, something that we insisted on. That was the whole purpose,” he said. This statement signaled what the administration believes is a historic breakthrough in decades of tense U.S.-Iran relations.
Earlier at the Oval Office, Trump noted that the stock market “likes the deal” and that a formal signing would happen quickly. He also highlighted a key economic consequence: the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping chokepoint, would reopen once the agreement is finalized. The strait has been a source of tension for years, with fears of closure periodically disrupting global oil supplies.
Trump described the agreement as “a very strong memorandum of understanding,” acknowledging that parts remain somewhat conceptual but insisting the framework is solid and will be executed. He emphasized that it is “a very detailed memorandum of understanding,” reinforcing the administration’s confidence in the deal’s structure.
According to Trump, Iran has committed to permanently abandoning any effort to obtain a nuclear weapon. “They will not purchase, develop in any way, shape or form a nuclear weapon. They will not have a nuclear weapon,” he stated. This commitment aligns with the core U.S. demand that had driven years of negotiations and sanctions pressure.
Explaining how Iran came to agree, Trump said, “They’ve taken a pounding like very few people could take — and they want to make the deal a lot more than I do.” His words suggested that sustained economic and diplomatic pressure had pushed Tehran to the table.
The path to this announcement was volatile. On Thursday morning, Trump had threatened to hit Iran “VERY HARD” and even take over Kharg Island, Iran’s main oil export hub. Just a few hours later, he abruptly canceled the planned attacks, citing progress in peace negotiations. The sudden pivot from war threats to peace promises left many observers stunned and highlighted the unpredictable nature of Trump’s approach to international crises.
Trump’s remarks about the weekend signing came at an event where he also announced the restoration of commercial fishing in protected areas of the Pacific Ocean — a domestic policy win that seemed almost secondary to the geopolitical breakthrough he was celebrating.
Over the past few weeks, Trump had repeatedly claimed that the U.S. and Iran were close to a deal, yet a formal agreement remained elusive. Critics had questioned whether progress was real or merely political posture. Thursday’s announcement, however, appears to mark a concrete turning point, with the administration pushing hard to seal the deal before the weekend.
If finalized, the memorandum would represent a major diplomatic achievement for Trump’s second term, potentially reshaping U.S. relations with Iran and stabilizing a volatile region. The involvement of Vice President Vance at the signing ceremony signals the administration’s high priority on the deal, while the participation of multiple Middle Eastern leaders suggests broad regional support.
What remains unclear is how quickly the agreement will be implemented, how Iran will comply with its terms, and whether global powers like Europe, China, and Russia will endorse the new framework. But for now, the White House is celebrating what it calls the end of a dangerous conflict and the beginning of a new chapter in U.S.-Iran relations.