US President Donald Trump and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stated that they expect to finalize a long-awaited framework agreement to end the fighting between the United States and Iran on Sunday. However, Tehran raised doubts regarding the timing, while hardline protesters in Iran voiced their opposition.
اضافة اعلان
In a social media post on Saturday, Trump wrote that the agreement with Iran is scheduled to be signed today, Sunday, which coincides with his 80th birthday. Sharif stated that both sides have agreed on a framework for a peace accord and that Islamabad is preparing for a virtual signing today, to be followed by technical-level talks in the coming days.
However, Iran has not confirmed a Sunday signing. Prior to Trump's post, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei cautioned against commenting on the timing of the signing, and was quoted by state media as saying, "It will not be tomorrow," though it could happen "in the coming days."
Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform that the Strait of Hormuz—a vital artery for global oil supplies that had been blocked by Iran—"will be opened to all" immediately after the agreement is signed.
Hardliners in Iran
While US strikes have severely weakened Iran's military-industrial base and damaged its military, experts say the war has consolidated the dominance of hardliners within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) more than ever before.
Videos on social media and Iranian news websites showed opponents of the agreement gathering in public squares and outside the Foreign Ministry in Tehran. Protesters appeared to hold Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accountable, chanting, "Shame on you, Araghchi! Stay away from America!"
Reuters has not yet been able to independently verify the authenticity of these videos.
When the United States and Israel launched the war against Iran on February 28, Trump called on Iranians to rise up and seize control of state institutions.
Even as signs emerged over the past two days that the United States and Iran are moving toward an agreement, clashes continued. The US military maintains a blockade on Iran and is working to weaken its grip on the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly 20% of global oil shipments passed prior to the war.
Early Saturday morning, the US military stated that its forces had shot down several Iranian attack drones headed toward the strait.
For its part, Israel—which maintains it is not a party to the US-Iranian agreement—stated on Saturday that it had struck more than 70 sites in Lebanon within 24 hours during operations targeting the Iran-aligned Hezbollah group.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has clashed with Trump over Washington's demands that Israel limit its military operations in Lebanon to allow room for an agreement with Tehran.
On Friday, Araghchi stated that amendments could still be made to the text, but the preliminary agreement demonstrates that his country has emerged stronger from the conflict.
Reopening the Strait of Hormuz
Pro-government rallies were organized across Iran on Saturday evening, while residents and news agencies reported that opponents of the framework agreement expressed their dissatisfaction with it.
A resident of the northeastern Iranian city of Mashhad told Reuters that some protesters chanted, "Death to those who make concessions," in an apparent reference to Minister Araghchi. Others chanted, "Concession-maker, resign, resign!"
Sources from all sides of the talks stated that the proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) calls for reopening the Strait of Hormuz and lifting the US naval blockade on Iranian ports.
Negotiations regarding Iran's nuclear program—the original catalyst for Trump launching the war—will be conducted at a later stage.
"Iran will open the Strait of Hormuz, and that is a prerequisite. The strait may open free of transit fees. When they do that, we will lift our blockade," a US official told reporters.
The official added, "This will happen concurrently, and clearing mines from the strait will be part of the next step," noting that G7 nations could play a role in this effort.
Downing Street stated on Saturday that British Prime Minister Keir Starmer discussed efforts to end the conflict with Iran during a phone call with Trump.
Draft terms disclosed by multiple sources to Reuters indicate that the United States would begin releasing billions of dollars in frozen Iranian assets and lift sanctions on Tehran's oil exports in exchange for Iran reopening the strait.
The Iranian Fars News Agency quoted Baghaei as saying that the release of frozen Iranian assets is an integral part of the deal, and that Iran would be compelled to impose service fees in the Strait of Hormuz.
He added that foreign military bases in the region must be terminated, without providing further details.
The Iranian nuclear program file will be addressed over a 60-day negotiating period. A US official stated that the agreement would ultimately lead to dismantling Iran's nuclear program, along with the destruction and removal of its highly enriched uranium stockpile.
(Reuters)
