U.S. President Donald Trump expressed confidence on Thursday that Iran will sign an initial agreement on ceasing hostilities on Friday, but issued a stark warning that he would not hesitate to resume military action if Tehran fails to uphold its commitments under the framework.
“I think it’ll be done. They want to sign… They want to get back to their normal lives,” Trump said, referring to the scheduled formal signing of the agreement in Geneva, Switzerland.
The negotiations, mediated by Pakistan and Qatar, have been characterized by deep uncertainty. The U.S. has demanded Tehran’s unequivocal renunciation of nuclear weapons ambitions, while Iran has sought firm guarantees on the release of frozen assets.
Reflecting on the unpredictable nature of the talks process environment, Trump told reporters: “I’ve gone into deals that were 100 percent and they don’t happen. I’ve gone into deals with no chance of getting them done and it happens, and it happens easily. So you never know with deals, but you’re going to find out pretty soon.”
BREAKING: “If I don’t like it, we’ll go back to shooting at them, dropping bombs on their head.”
President Trump warns Iran that any change to the peace agreement or failure to comply could bring an immediate military response.
“If they don’t behave, we’ll go right back to… pic.twitter.com/67JRcDptYS
— Fox News (@FoxNews) June 17, 2026
According to U.S. Vice President JD Vance, the deal has already been digitally signed, aiming to end the conflict that had stalled international shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and destabilized global energy markets.
Once the memorandum of understanding (MoU) is formally inked, the two sides are expected to hold fire for 60 days for final talks on resolving the contentious issues, with Iran permitting the full resumption of shipping and the United States easing its port blockade, according to reports on the draft agreement, which has not been officially released.
However, speaking on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in France, Trump made clear that the framework is not yet a final document set in stone.
“No, it’s not final. It’s a memorandum of understanding,” he clarified.
In a stern warning during a meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Trump added: “If I don’t like it, we will go back to shooting at them. If they don’t behave, we’ll go right back to dropping bombs right smack in the middle of their head.”
Kiran Asim is a writer who covers the U.S., Europe, South Asia, and the Middle East. Her reports and analyses look at the geostrategic issues and contemporary developments and their economic and political implications. She also writes about society and education.
Asim Tanveer is a seasoned journalist working for TV and electronic and print media outlets. He has been working for some of the world’s leading news organizations including Associated Press (AP), Reuters, BBC, CNN, CNBC, Star TV, Voice of America and The New York Times for more than 30 years. He has won several awards for his live coverage of events that include a Reuters News Agency World Award and the Pride of Performance award in 1997.
