Will the US-Iran deal be signed on Sunday? What we know so far
US says a deal to stop the war on Iran could be signed as early as Sunday. Tehran, however, disputes the timeline. United States President
US says a deal to stop the war on Iran could be signed as early as Sunday. Tehran, however, disputes the timeline. United States President Donald Trump claims that the first stage of a peace deal with Iran will be signed on Sunday after more than 100 days of war that have triggered a global energy crisis and darkened the global economic outlook. Tehran, however, has disputed the timeline, saying the signing of the deal could happen in the “coming days”. The initial agreement, called a memorandum of understanding, would extend the current ceasefire for another 60 days, according to media reports. So what is the latest peace deal, and will it be signed? Here’s what we know What have the US and Iran said? On Thursday, shortly after threatening to take control of Iran’s Kharg Island oil facility, which processes 90 percent of Iran’s crude exports, Trump said he had called off strikes on the country because a deal with Tehran was close and could even be signed over the weekend. The next day, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the US had “never been closer”. Trump then shared Araghchi’s post on his Truth Social social media platform. Iranian state media later reported extensive details of what they said was included in a document with the US, noting that it also included Lebanon, where Israel is conducting air strikes and a ground invasion in the south, in the agreement. Trump had earlier complained that the “terms that Iran leaked out to the Fake News have NOTHING to do with the terms that were agreed to in writing” and warned Iran’s leaders to “get their act together, fast”. Then on Saturday, Trump said in a social media post that a deal with Iran was scheduled to be signed on Sunday and the Strait of Hormuz would be immediately “open to all”. Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei, however, said the MoU will not be signed on Sunday but added he does not rule out that it could happen in the “coming days”, according to state media. “The Islamabad memorandum, which is being pursued, focuses on ending the war, and at this stage, it has been decided that there will be no discussion about the nuclear issue,” he said, referring to the document negotiated with the mediation of Pakistan. “We must wait for the exact time of signing the memorandum; although it will not be tomorrow, the possibility that it will happen in the coming days is not ruled out,” he added on Saturday. “However, due to the other party’s instability, we must be cautious about any statements regarding this process.” Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Saturday on X that the finalisation of the US-Iran agreement is expected in the next 24 hours with “the electronic signing of the peace deal immediately after, followed by technical level talks next week”. He thanked the US and Iran for their commitment during the talks and those in the region for their support. “We are confident that this historic peace deal will form a strong foundation for lasting peace,” he concluded. Reporting from Tehran, Al Jazeera’s Mohamed Vall said statements from the US and Iran indicated that the signing of the memorandum of understanding could happen soon although it’s not clear whether it will be an electronic signing or an in-person signing.
The BriefWire