Iran says U.S. peace deal is not yet finalized, even as Trump targets weekend signing

Iran said on Thursday that a U.S.-Iran peace deal discussed in recent negotiations is not yet final, even as President Donald Trump moves to finalize the signing by this weekend. The Iranian position, according to reporting, indicates that while major parts of the accord may be nearing completion, Iran has not fully approved the pact in its entirety.

The statement comes as the Trump administration has indicated it wants to move quickly to conclude a broad agreement with Iran. The Washington Times reported that Trump is aiming to sign the agreement by the end of the week, framing it as a step toward closing out a larger diplomatic effort.

Iran’s characterization of the process suggests there is still an internal approval step remaining on Tehran’s side before the document can be treated as fully concluded. The reporting described Iran as saying that “major parts” are close to completion, but not that a final, fully authorized agreement is in place.

While the reported dispute is still at the level of timing and approval status, it carries practical implications for implementation planning. Negotiated agreements typically require clarity on what text is approved, who has authority to commit, and whether all required approvals have been completed before any staged obligations can begin.

For U.S. officials, the difference between “close to completion” and “fully approved” can affect how quickly the agreement can be operationalized. Administrative steps, compliance readiness, and any associated releases or enforcement actions generally depend on an agreement that has cleared all internal and legal approval processes on both sides.

The public timing also matters for regional security expectations. Iran and the United States have long been linked to concerns about maritime security, including through the Strait of Hormuz and surrounding waters, making any announcement about an accord’s completion a focus for governments and market participants monitoring the risk environment.

If Trump proceeds with a weekend signing attempt, the Iranian clarification raises the likelihood that questions will persist about the deal’s final status until Iran completes its internal approval. Until both sides treat the agreement as fully concluded, implementation timelines could remain subject to delay or renegotiated sequencing.