Trump Says US-Iran Peace Deal Set for Sunday Signing as Tehran Urges Caution

United States President Donald Trump has announced that a deal aimed at ending hostilities between the United States and Iran is scheduled to be signed on Sunday, although Iranian officials have urged caution over the proposed timeline.

In a post on social media, Trump said the agreement was expected to be concluded on Sunday and declared that the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important shipping routes for oil and liquefied natural gas, would be reopened to all vessels under the arrangement.

Earlier, Pakistan, which has been mediating discussions between Washington and Tehran, said the agreement was expected to be finalised within 24 hours and disclosed that preparations were underway for an electronic signing ceremony.

However, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Esmaeil Baghaei, appeared more cautious about the timeline.

“We will have to wait and see about the exact date of the signing of the memorandum of understanding, although it will not be tomorrow,” Baghaei said.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also indicated that technical-level discussions would continue next week if the agreement is signed during the weekend.

Iran’s Foreign Minister, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, had earlier stated that negotiations were approaching a conclusion.

Sharif likewise announced that a Memorandum of Understanding between the United States and Iran had already been agreed and was awaiting finalisation.

According to Araghchi, the proposed agreement includes the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the lifting of the United States blockade of Iranian ports. He added that negotiations concerning Iran’s nuclear programme would commence at a later stage.

United States officials have confirmed some aspects of the proposed arrangement, saying economic benefits for Iran would be tied to compliance with agreed obligations.

Reports indicate that the agreement also envisages an end to the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, although previous reports from the United States suggested Lebanon might not initially form part of the framework.

The conflict began on February 28 following US and Israeli strikes across Iran. Iran subsequently launched attacks against Israel and US-allied states in the Gulf and effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump earlier stated that American forces had cancelled planned attacks against Iran because negotiators had reached what he described as a “great settlement.”

Iranian media on Friday published details of what it described as a 14-point agreement. However, Trump dismissed the reports, insisting the published details bore no resemblance to the actual terms under negotiation.

A few hours later, Pakistan’s Prime Minister confirmed that the Memorandum of Understanding had been agreed and was awaiting final approval.

On Saturday, Sharif announced that Pakistan was preparing for the electronic signing of the peace agreement, followed by technical-level talks next week.

Araghchi acknowledged that differing opinions remained within Iran’s Supreme National Security Council regarding the proposed deal but said a final decision had yet to be reached.

“For now, we must wait. If approved, the agreement will be signed remotely,” he said.

Despite lingering uncertainties, Araghchi expressed optimism that the final stages of negotiations would soon be completed.

“As soon as the final stages of our negotiations are completed, this agreement will be signed and announced. This could happen in the coming days. I am very hopeful,” he said.

BBC