U.S. President Donald Trump has launched an investigation into CNN after accusing the network of broadcasting a fraudulent statement from Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) that portrayed Tehran as the victor in a recent ceasefire.
The clash erupted hours after Trump announced a two-week truce between the United States, Iran, and Israel on Tuesday night. The deal came just before a self-imposed deadline in which Trump had threatened devastating strikes on Iranian infrastructure if the Strait of Hormuz was not reopened.
Trump announced the agreement on Truth Social, making it conditional on Iran allowing what he called the “complete, immediate, and safe opening” of the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway responsible for roughly 20% of global oil supplies.
The agreement, brokered with the assistance of Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, opens the door to formal negotiations in Islamabad. Trump described the move as a “total and complete victory” for the United States, stating that Iran’s 10-point proposal provides a workable basis for a long-term peace agreement.
Iran confirmed the pause in hostilities but framed the outcome differently. A statement attributed to the SNSC declared a “great victory,” claiming the U.S. suffered an “undeniable, historic, and crushing defeat” and was forced to accept Iran’s demands. These reportedly included the lifting of all sanctions, the withdrawal of U.S. forces from the region, and the recognition of Iran’s nuclear enrichment programme.
CNN’s live blog carried the headline: *“Iran claims victory, says it forced U.S. to accept 10-point plan.”* The network reported the SNSC statement as it appeared across multiple Iranian state media outlets, including Fars News Agency and Tasnim News Agency.
Trump fired back quickly on social media, calling the statement a “FRAUD” and accusing CNN of knowingly amplifying misinformation. He claimed the statement originated from a “new, trouble-making fake news site from Nigeria” and was picked up by CNN without proper verification.
The President ordered the network to retract the report and issue a full apology, warning that federal authorities are investigating whether a criminal act was committed.
CNN has pushed back firmly against the accusations. A spokesperson told reporters that the statement was obtained directly from Iranian officials and verified through established official channels before broadcast.
As of publication, no retraction has been issued. It is worth noting that the specific Nigerian website referenced by the President has not been publicly named or independently confirmed. At this stage, the connection remains an unverified allegation, while CNN maintains its sourcing was legitimate.
The ceasefire itself has brought cautious relief to global markets, with oil prices falling sharply following the announcement. While celebrations were reported in the streets of Tehran, the situation remains volatile; Iran has warned its forces remain on high alert, and Israel has noted that its operations in Lebanon continue independently of the Iran truce.
This row echoes years of tension between Trump and CNN, but the stakes are unusually high as both sides trade accusations during one of the most sensitive foreign policy moments of Trump’s second term. High-level negotiations between Washington and Tehran are scheduled to begin in Islamabad this Friday.
