Trump says US-Iran peace deal to be signed on Sunday; Strait of Hormuz to reopen
Pakistan says negotiations are in their final stage and an electronic signing ceremony is expected, though Tehran has not confirmed the timeline
US President Donald Trump on Saturday (June 13) said a deal to end the war with Iran would be signed on Sunday and that the strategic Strait of Hormuz would be "open to all" immediately afterwards.
Trump's comments came hours after Pakistan indicated that the United States and Iran were in the final stage of negotiations and that an electronic signing ceremony for the agreement was scheduled for Sunday. However, there is no immediate comment from Iran on the reported timeline.
Fresh attacks not ruled out
"The Deal is scheduled to get signed tomorrow, and immediately after it is signed, the Hormuz Strait is OPEN TO ALL," Trump said in a post on Truth Social, signalling what could be a major diplomatic breakthrough after months of conflict and negotiations.
Also read | Will Iran and the US sign an MoU? Hope persists despite hurdles
At the same time, Trump kept the threat of fresh attacks dangling if the deal failed to pan out as expected.
“We look forward to working with Iran, and the entire Middle East, long into the future. Hopefully, this process will all work out quickly, easily, and smoothly. If it doesn’t, we have the ultimate alternative, hopefully never to be used again,” he said.
The US president also contrasted the proposed agreement with the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) negotiated under former US president Barack Obama.
“Barack Hussein Obama’s Deal with Iran, the JCPOA, was an easy, beautiful, smooth road to a Nuclear Weapon, which Iran would have had six years ago, and would have used long before now.”
“My Agreement with Iran is the exact opposite, A WALL TO NO NUCLEAR WEAPON! In fact, they no longer want a Nuclear Weapon, nor will they have one, either through purchase, development, or any other form of procurement,” he said.
‘Nuclear programme neutralised’
Trump further claimed that Iran's nuclear programme had been effectively neutralised and said the remaining nuclear material would be disposed of at a later stage.
“At the appropriate time, when all is calm, we will go in and get the Nuclear Dust, buried deep under the powerful sunken granite mountains, thanks to our beautiful B-2 Bombers and their brilliant pilots, and downblend and destroy it, whether in Iran, or the United States,” he said.
Earlier, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said a US-Iran peace deal could be finalised within the next 24 hours, as Islamabad indicated that an electronic signing ceremony was expected on Sunday.
The indication came in a statement issued on Saturday by the Foreign Office after a telephonic conversation between Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan.
"They welcomed the US-Iran negotiations in their final stage, with the electronic signing ceremony scheduled for tomorrow (Sunday), and expressed the hope that this important development will contribute to lasting peace and stability in the region," it said.
Saudi FM hails Pak’s efforts
The Saudi foreign minister appreciated Pakistan's "consistent and sustained efforts" in support of mediation and dialogue throughout the process, the statement said.
Also read | Pakistan says US, Iran may sign deal in 24 hrs; what’s in the ‘Islamabad Agreement’?
The two leaders also discussed the forthcoming Regional Four Foreign Ministers (R-4) meeting, scheduled to be held in Egypt later this month. "We are closer to a peace deal than ever before. With finalisation likely expected in the next 24 hours, Pakistan is preparing for the electronic signing of the peace deal immediately after, followed by technical level talks next week," Sharif said in a social media post. He thanked the United States and Iran for their "ongoing commitment" during the negotiations and expressed appreciation for support from countries in the region.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Friday suggested progress in the negotiations, saying the "Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding has never been closer".
"Pending its finalisation, the media should refrain from entering speculation about its content. In line with our responsible and transparent approach, all details will be shared with the public in due course," Araghchi had said in a social media post.
The conflict, which began on February 28, has rattled global markets, tested regional alliances and intensified diplomatic efforts to secure a negotiated settlement.
(With agency inputs)