US and Iran signal peace deal near despite differences over terms
Trump on Friday (Jun 12) denied that the US had made major concessions to Iran, although Tehran’s version of the deal appeared to offer Iran much of what it has demanded so far.
DUBAI/WASHINGTON: The United States and Iran on Friday (Jun 12) appeared to have sharply different understandings of the contents of an emerging pact to end their war, though both sides signalled that an agreement was close.
Pakistan, which has for weeks sought to broker a deal, said a final text of a peace agreement between the United States and Iran had been reached, although there was no immediate confirmation from Washington or Tehran.
“Pakistan is now working closely with both sides to finalise the next steps,” Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said in a post on X.
JUNE 15, 2026 – CHANNELNEWSASIA
Leaked terms of the proposed memorandum of understanding outlined by Western, Pakistani and Iranian sources on Friday appeared to favour Iran, drawing criticism from US President Donald Trump, who called the reports inaccurate.
While there were minor differences in the accounts, all appeared to offer Tehran much of what it has demanded so far, with Trump appearing to win little of what he has sought, beyond the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran shut after the US and Israel launched attacks in February.
Trump said leaked comments on a deal did not represent what had been agreed to. “The terms that Iran leaked out to the Fake News have NOTHING to do with the terms that were agreed to, in writing,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
“Very dishonourable people to deal with,” he said of the Iranians.
However, shortly afterwards, Trump reposted a social media post by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, in which Araqchi said a memorandum to end the war had never been closer – and also warned against speculation over its contents until it was finalised.
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