Diplomatic indicators regarding ongoing negotiations between the United States and Iran have intensified over recent hours, amid rising optimism that a political and security understanding is within reach. The prospective deal could turn a new page in a crisis whose repercussions have escalated over the past few months, with projections suggesting the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) could be signed as early as Sunday.
اضافة اعلان
According to available information, the current negotiations do not center on a final treaty, but rather a "memorandum of understanding" or a temporary political framework. According to The New York Times, it aims to contain the current crisis and pave the way for more comprehensive negotiations regarding Iran's nuclear program and related security issues.
These talks carry particular weight as they follow months of military and diplomatic escalation between the two sides, and come amid concerns over the crisis's impact on maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz and global energy markets. Consequently, any progress in the talks has drawn widespread regional and international scrutiny.
As negotiations enter the final stretch, the pace of leaks regarding the positions of both Washington and Tehran—along with the details of the anticipated agreement—has rapidly accelerated.
Date of the Signing
In the latest statements, US President Donald Trump stated that the agreement with Iran is scheduled to be signed on Sunday, adding that immediately following the signing, the Strait of Hormuz will be opened to everyone.
"At an appropriate time, and after things cool down, we will go in to get the nuclear dust," Trump continued. "We hope this process goes quickly, easily, and smoothly. If it doesn't, we have the perfect alternative."
The US President described his agreement with Iran as a "wall preventing it from possessing any nuclear weapon." He further claimed that Iran no longer wants a nuclear weapon and will not acquire one through purchase, development, or any other means.
Trump reiterated that former President Barack Obama's deal was an easy and smooth path toward possessing a nuclear weapon, whereas his agreement "is the exact opposite." He also noted that no money would be exchanged, contrasting it with the hundreds of billions "that Obama paid to Iran."
Regarding what he termed "nuclear dust," Trump said, "We will go in to extract the Iranian nuclear dust buried deep underground at the right time and when calm prevails," adding, "We will dilute the nuclear dust and destroy it, whether in Iran or the United States."
He also stated that his administration’s relationship with Iran is entirely different and far better than those of previous administrations, noting that he looks forward to working with Iran and the wider Middle East over the long term.
A Virtual Ceremony
In a related development, a spokesperson for the Pakistani Foreign Ministry confirmed to Al Jazeera that Islamabad will organize a virtual, electronic signing ceremony via video link for the US-Iran peace agreement.
Abdul Rahman Matar, Al Jazeera’s bureau chief in Islamabad, quoted a Pakistani source familiar with the Washington-Tehran talks as saying that the signing of the MoU will take place electronically, without the physical attendance of senior officials from either side. The electronic signature will suffice for this stage, with new details regarding the final signing of the agreement to be announced later.
The US network CNN pointed out that the virtual nature of the signing stems partly from scheduling complexities; the President and Vice President JD Vance do not travel abroad simultaneously due to security protocols and the continuity of government.
CNN explained that Trump is scheduled to depart for France on Monday, making it logistically difficult to arrange for Vance to travel to Europe and return before the US President's departure.
Sunday Dismissed by Tehran
Conversely, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei stated that the MoU would not be signed on Sunday, though he did not rule out a signing in the coming days.
Baghaei urged caution when commenting on the timing of the signing, citing what he described as the "hesitancy of the other party."
He also revealed that the Islamabad MoU focuses primarily on ending the war at this stage without addressing the nuclear dossier. He added that, based on past experiences, the focus at this juncture is solely on halting hostilities across all fronts, including Lebanon.
Baghaei clarified that the MoU is not a final agreement with Washington but rather an understanding that outlines core points of contention and affirms an end to the war. "The issues between Iran and the United States are complex, and this path must be pursued with caution," he added.
In a related context, the Iranian Fars News Agency, which is close to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), expressed surprise at the US President's insistence on a Sunday signing. The agency noted that Iranian officials have indicated that the understanding is not yet finalized and that a signing will absolutely not take place on Sunday.
Fars asserted that "the fate of a Sunday signing represents not just a technical test of the understanding's substance, but also a test of Iranian officials' honesty and steadfastness against theatrical pressures."
Twin Phone Calls
The Pakistani Prime Minister's office said in a statement that Shehbaz Sharif received a phone call from Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, who expressed deep appreciation for Pakistan's role in supporting regional de-escalation efforts.
The statement added that the Pakistani Prime Minister assured his Qatari counterpart of Washington and Tehran's readiness to sign a peace agreement soon, without specifying an exact date.
The Qatari Foreign Ministry also reported that the Prime Minister held a phone call with his Pakistani counterpart to review cooperative relations between the two countries.
The call covered the latest regional developments and Pakistani mediation efforts aimed at lowering tensions to bolster security and stability. According to the Qatari Foreign Ministry, the Qatari Prime Minister expressed his country's satisfaction with the progress made in the negotiations and Pakistan's announcement that a final text had been reached.
In a concurrent development, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported that Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan discussed regional updates and ongoing efforts during a phone call he received from his Pakistani counterpart, Muhammad Ishaq Dar.
Pakistani Announcement
Earlier, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stated, "We are closer than ever to a peace agreement, and it is likely to be completed within 24 hours," noting that the United States and Iran have reached the final text of the peace accord.
"We are preparing for an electronic signing ceremony for the US-Iran peace agreement as soon as it is finalized," Sharif said. He explained that Washington and Tehran "have agreed on a framework for a peace agreement that ends months of conflict in the Middle East."
He announced that Pakistan is gearing up for the virtual signing within 24 hours, adding that technical talks will be held next week following the electronic signing of the US-Iran pact.
US Commentary
Commenting on the situation, a senior US official stated that Washington believes a very robust agreement has been reached with Iran, pointing out that the Pakistani statements confirm this assessment.
The official emphasized that the agreement obligates Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz as a prerequisite, indicating that it could potentially open free of any transit fees.
He revealed that the United States will halt its naval blockade on Iran concurrently with the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Following the opening of the strait, an intensive and synchronized maritime demining operation will commence.
The official noted that Britain and France have discussed forming a naval coalition and have military vessels nearby, ready to participate in clearing mines from the Strait of Hormuz, while the United States will be heavily involved in demining operations to swiftly restore normalcy.
Draft and Details
Meanwhile, Reuters quoted an informed Western source as saying that the agreement between the US and Iran could be signed as early as Sunday by US Vice President JD Vance and Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, with Geneva emerging as the likely venue for the signing.
In the same context, multiple sources familiar with the matter told Reuters that the draft terms of the US-Iran agreement include Washington initiating the release of billions of dollars in frozen Iranian assets and lifting sanctions on Iranian oil exports in exchange for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
The sources added that Iran's nuclear program would be discussed over a 60-day negotiating period. The proposals also reportedly include discussing potential wartime compensation for Iran and dropping long-standing US demands for restrictions on Iran's missile program.
Conversely, a US official denied the accuracy of these proposed terms to Reuters, asserting that "no funds will be released to Iran until it implements the terms of the agreement." The official added that the Strait of Hormuz will remain open and that Iran will not provide funding to groups designated as terrorist organizations by Washington, noting that Tehran has agreed to this.
A senior Israeli official stated that Israel expects to retain freedom of action to counter what it perceives as threats to its security.
Complications in the Strait of Hormuz
Bloomberg reported that the United States and its allies intend to restore maritime shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz to normal levels within about a month of a potential agreement with Iran.
The agency quoted a diplomat familiar with the talks as saying that this task could be complicated by the potential presence of mines in the strait.
Along the same lines, a source familiar with the matter told Bloomberg that the bare minimum Israel expects from any agreement to end the war is a guarantee that highly enriched uranium will be removed from Iran.
Bloomberg also quoted a senior US official stating that negotiations this time are different. The official noted that US diplomatic efforts over the past 24 hours have been a comprehensive, all-hands-on-deck operation involving several top figures, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Jared Kushner, and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.
The US official indicated that the chances of Washington and Tehran reaching an agreement soon stand between 80% and 85%, though he cautioned that some hardliners within Iran are still seeking to derail a potential breakthrough.
Iranian Divergence
In contrast, conflicting signals have emerged from the Iranian side. Some media outlets close to the conservative faction portrayed the agreement as an Iranian victory, while official institutions adopted more guarded language. Minister of Foreign Affairs Abbas Araghchi confined his remarks to noting that the chances of reaching an agreement are higher than ever, without disclosing specifics.
Earlier, Iranian officials cautioned that they had not made a final decision on accepting the terms.
Iranian state television stated that the United States has shown respect for Iran's sovereignty after 47 years. It added that the very Americans who sought to overthrow the government three months ago are now forced to accept the principle of non-interference to reach an understanding.
The broadcast noted that the Strait of Hormuz remains under Iranian control, and that the release of $24 billion in frozen funds is under discussion, alongside a review of sanctions relief and the nuclear file following the understanding. It concluded by emphasizing that Iran will not transfer nuclear materials abroad.
Source: Al Jazeera + Agencies + US Press
