Trump says Iran war deal is close as Tehran denies agreement

US President Donald Trump has said a preliminary arrangement to end the conflict with Iran may be close, after he posted that planned strikes on Iran had been called off.

Tehran has pushed back on that account. Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson told state television that reports of a deal remained speculative and that no agreement had been completed.

Trump has previously said Washington and Tehran were near an understanding to stop the fighting. His latest statement came only hours after he warned that Iran would be hit “very hard”.

The conflict widened after the United States and Israel carried out broad attacks on Iran on February 28. Iran answered with strikes on Israel and on US-allied states in the Gulf, while effectively shutting the Strait of Hormuz, a major route for global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments.

Despite a ceasefire agreed in April, the United States and Iran have continued to trade sporadic fire, including two rounds of retaliatory strikes this week.