US-Iran peace deal remains elusive as Trump and Tehran trade conflicting claims

US president dismissed Iranian media reports agreement was close, despite earlier suggesting a deal could be signed this weekend

• https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/jun/12/middle-east-crisis-live-us-iran-israel-lebanon-trump-hormuz-oil-peace-deal-doubt-latest-news-updates">Middle East crisis – live updates

Prospects for an immediate end to the war between Iran and the US remained uncertain on Friday amid a https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jun/12/trump-rollercoaster-deal-us-iran">chaotic series of conflicting claims and counter-claims by US and Iranian officials about ongoing negotiations

Donald Trump seemed to distance himself from his earlier comments that suggested a preliminary agreement could be signed as soon as this weekend, with a series of angry social media posts describing the Iranians as “very dishonorable people to deal with”.