President Donald Trump and Pakistani officials claimed a peace deal to end the Middle East war would be signed Sunday, but Iran cast doubt on the timeline, with its foreign ministry saying the agreement would not be finalized “tomorrow” despite hints of progress. The conflicting statements emerged as oil prices fluctuated and U.S. and Iranian forces exchanged strikes near the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route.
The Timelines Disagree
Trump asserted on Truth Social that the deal was “scheduled to get signed” Sunday, while Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif tweeted that the agreement was “closer to a peace deal than ever before,” with an electronic signing “likely expected in the next 24 hours.” However, Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei told state media, “It will not be tomorrow,” though he added, “The possibility of this happening in the coming days cannot be ruled out.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, meanwhile, suggested the memorandum of understanding could be finalized “within the next one or two days,” according to NBC News. The discrepancies highlight the fragile nature of the negotiations, with both sides cautiously managing expectations.
The Deal’s Components
The proposed agreement, according to sources familiar with the talks, would reopen the Strait of Hormuz without tolls, restore prewar shipping within 30 days, and lift the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports. It also includes a 60-day extension of the current ceasefire, which collapsed this week amid renewed strikes.
Find more reporting in our News section.
