'Great settlement soon in Europe': Trump sees imminent Iran deal, Tehran yet to nod

US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that an agreement with Iran could be completed as early as this weekend, adding that a formal signing ceremony may take place in Europe once the remaining paperwork is finalised.The deadline, though not specific, came after Trump on Thursday said that he had cancelled planned military strikes against Iran, only hours after warning of a major escalation that included taking control of the country's oil industry.In a post on social media, Trump said the decision was made “based on the fact that discussions with the Islamic Republic of Iran have been brought to the highest level of Iranian leadership and approved.”Later, speaking in the Oval Office, Trump said, "We just made a great settlement of the war with Iran, and we're going to be subject to finalisation of documents. We should get done over the next few days. We'll probably have a signing, maybe in Europe. When oil comes down, everything else comes down."The US president also asserted that Iran's Supreme Leader had approved the proposed terms and indicated that Washington would immediately end its blockade of Iran once the agreement came into force. Trump said such a move would have a significant impact on global energy markets.However, Tehran has not officially confirmed the agreement. According to Iran's state news agency IRNA, a spokesperson for the country's foreign ministry said the Islamic Republic had yet to make a final decision on the proposed deal. The spokesperson said the government would issue a formal announcement once the relevant authorities had completed their review of the draft agreement and reached a conclusion on its details.Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said reports of a finalised agreement with the United States were "merely speculation" and that Tehran has not yet made a final decision on any deal, CNN reported, citing Iran's state-run news agency IRNA.He added that Qatar and Pakistan were "active as mediators", but noted that "US actions are affecting the diplomatic process"."From the beginning, the status of the negotiations was clear to us, and a large portion of the text had already been finalised. However, the Americans kept changing their positions," Baghaei said, as reported by IRNA and cited by CNN.He stressed that Iran had "proven that it does not compromise on what it has defined as its red lines" and confirmed, "So far, Iran has not reached a final decision regarding any agreement."Asked whether the United States would lift the blockade immediately after the signing, Trump replied, "Yes, that's right. That's part of the deal. And you'll have oil prices dropping like a rock."Trump also maintained that Iran had agreed to permanently forgo the development or acquisition of nuclear weapons under the proposed arrangement."They will not have a nuclear weapon. They've agreed to that. There will be no, which is the whole reason, which is a big part of the reason. They will not only not have, they will not purchase, develop in any way, any shape, in any way, shape, or form a nuclear weapon. They will not have a nuclear weapon," he further added.Expressing confidence that the agreement would soon be concluded, Trump argued that recent US actions had helped bring Iran to the negotiating table.He described the proposed arrangement as beneficial for both Washington and the wider region, while insisting that preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons remained a central objective."Because they (Iran) have taken a pounding like very few people could take, and they want to make the deal a lot more than I do. We could have done the other way, but it would have taken longer. They got hit very hard recently, as you know. And I don't like to have to do things that way, but I felt it was necessary. It's a great deal for the US and for the Middle East, and I think ultimately great for Iran because they'll be able to build up their country," Trump remarked.The US president also suggested that recent changes within Iran's leadership structure had improved prospects for a settlement."I really believe it's a regime change because I find these people to be much more rational than the people who are no longer with us. We knocked out the first team of leadership, the second team of leadership. This is a different group. This is a different level. I think it's, frankly, a smarter level, and it's a level that has reason. Everybody's approved the deal. Now we'll get it finished up, and hopefully that'll be done. Iran will in no way, or form have a nuclear weapon or purchase a nuclear weapon," Trump said.Trump further described the agreement as a comprehensive memorandum of understanding that could pave the way for broader nuclear discussions in the future."It's very strong memorandum of understanding. That is a little conceptual, but it's something that's going to get done. And if it doesn't get done for any reason, which I can't imagine that not happening. They want to sign it as much as I do or more. I would say they want to sign it more, maybe a lot more. But it's a very detailed memorandum of understanding, also agreed to by many other countries that have great influence over them. Everybody wants it done. It's going to get done," he further added.