President Donald Trump on Friday accused Iran of acting in bad faith after details of a proposed peace agreement were leaked to the media, casting uncertainty over negotiations aimed at ending months of conflict and addressing concerns over Tehran’s nuclear program.
The dispute emerged just one day after Trump signaled that the U.S. and Iran were nearing a formal agreement that would extend a ceasefire and establish a framework for broader negotiations.
Speaking to reporters Thursday, Trump said the two sides were close to finalizing a memorandum of understanding that would halt hostilities while negotiators worked through unresolved issues involving Iran’s nuclear activities, regional security concerns and economic sanctions.
A senior White House official described the proposed agreement as being near completion and said negotiators had made substantial progress in recent weeks.
However, tensions escalated Friday when reports surfaced describing alleged details of the proposed arrangement, including provisions related to sanctions relief and Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium.
Trump sharply criticized Iranian officials after the reports were published, arguing that the information circulating publicly did not accurately reflect the contents of the negotiations.
“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 social media.
He also accused Iranian leaders of negotiating dishonestly.
“Very dishonorable people to deal with. With them, there is no such thing as dealing in good faith,” Trump said.
The White House did not immediately provide additional details regarding which reported provisions Trump disputed.
The proposed memorandum reportedly would extend the existing ceasefire for 60 days, creating additional time for diplomats to negotiate a broader settlement involving Iran’s nuclear program and regional conflicts.
Officials familiar with the discussions have said the agreement could include sanctions relief measures and mechanisms addressing Iran’s nuclear activities.
The negotiations come after months of military confrontations and heightened tensions across the Middle East.
Trump also condemned an Iranian drone attack reported Thursday against ships transiting near the Strait of Hormuz, calling the incident unacceptable as diplomatic efforts continued.
The administration has not indicated whether the reported attack will affect the ongoing negotiations.
Meanwhile, reports suggested Israeli officials were not fully informed about the final stages of the discussions, per the Daily Mail.
According to multiple reports, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sought information about the negotiations through contacts within Trump’s political circle but remained largely excluded from the final phase of talks.
The apparent lack of Israeli involvement has highlighted differences between Washington and Jerusalem regarding the diplomatic approach toward Iran.
Administration officials have repeatedly stated in recent months that a deal was close, though previous efforts failed to produce a final agreement.
Recent developments have fueled speculation that negotiators may be closer than before to reaching a formal accord.
Trump told reporters Thursday that the agreement documents were largely complete and suggested a signing ceremony could occur within days.
“We just made a great settlement of the war with Iran,” Trump said.
Officials have discussed the possibility of holding a signing event in Europe if negotiations are finalized.
Neither Iranian officials nor the White House announced Friday whether the reported leak would delay or derail the proposed agreement.
Diplomatic contacts between the two sides were expected to continue through the weekend as negotiators worked to resolve remaining differences and determine whether a final agreement could be signed.
