US President Donald Trump on 12 June declared that the United States and Iran are on the verge of finalising an agreement that would permanently bar Tehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, raising the prospect of a formal signing ceremony within days and a potential easing of tensions across the Middle East. Speaking at the White House, Trump said negotiations had advanced to the stage where final documents were being prepared.

What Trump Said

“We just made a great settlement of the war with Iran, and we’re going to be subject to finalization of documents, which should get done over the next few days,” Trump told reporters. “We have a deal that Iran will never have a nuclear weapon.”

Trump indicated the agreement could be signed “very soon,” possibly over the weekend in Europe, though he said Vice President JD Vance would represent the administration at any formal ceremony. He described the framework as “a very strong memorandum of understanding” endorsed by multiple regional powers.

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Trump said he had spoken with leaders from Israel, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Kuwait as part of the diplomatic effort. He characterised the memorandum as having been “agreed to by many other countries that have great influence over them.”

A central element of the proposed deal, according to Trump, is Iran’s commitment to permanently forgo nuclear weapons. “They will not purchase, develop in any way, any shape, in any way, shape or form a nuclear weapon,” he said. When asked whether Iran’s Supreme Leader had approved the arrangement, Trump replied: “Sir, I understand the answer is yes.”

Strait of Hormuz and Maritime Access

Trump also said that the maritime blockade linked to the conflict would be lifted once the agreement is formally signed. “The Strait will open as soon as we have it signed,” he said, adding the signing could come “maybe Saturday or Monday.” He claimed US operations had secured shipping lanes through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical energy transit corridors, facilitating the movement of “hundreds of millions of barrels of oil.”

Trump’s Assessment of Iran’s Military Position

Trump argued that recent military pressure had significantly altered Tehran’s calculations. “They’ve taken a pounding,” he said. “They want to make the deal a lot more than I do.” He further claimed Iran’s military capabilities had been severely degraded. “Their navy is gone, their air force is gone, their anti-aircraft is gone,” Trump said, adding that Iran had nonetheless proved “rational” and willing to reach an agreement.

The claims about Iran’s military losses have not been independently verified. If the deal holds, it would mark one of the most significant diplomatic developments in US-Iran relations in decades, with direct implications for global energy markets and regional security architecture.