Trump Says Iran Deal Could Be Signed Tomorrow as Israel Watches Closely

US President Donald Trump said on Truth Social that negotiations with Iran are in their final stage and that an agreement is expected to be signed on Sunday, after which the Strait of Hormuz would reopen to traffic. He also said the highly enriched uranium in Iran would eventually be collected and destroyed, either in Iran or in the United States, warning that if the deal fails, the United States has an “ultimate alternative” it hopes never to use.

Pakistani officials also indicated that the agreement could be signed soon. Israel, meanwhile, is reportedly worried that Trump may settle for diluting Iran’s enriched uranium rather than removing it from the country. A senior American official said the sides are close to a deal and estimated the chances of a signing in the coming days at 85 percent, though not yet certain.

Trump told Channel 12 on Friday that he still believed a deal could be reached by the weekend or by Monday. He said the Iranians had apologized for spreading false information, and an American official quoted him as telling Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, “This is the deal, it is time to end this war.” Trump is also planning to hold a summit in France with several Middle Eastern leaders, and a US official said Netanyahu will not take part.

Separately, CNN reported that Trump halted at the last minute a ground raid by US special forces on Iran’s uranium sites because of fears of heavy casualties and a regional war. CBS reported that the Pentagon is considering a US role in securing the enriched uranium if an agreement is signed.