possible US-Iran – Pakistan’s prime minister says the U.S. and Iran are closer than ever to an agreement aimed at ending the Middle East war and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, with an electronic signing expected within 24 hours. But the White House has not said where negotiatio
When the Strait of Hormuz is at stake, time matters. Saturday. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said a U.S.-Iran deal meant to end the war in the Middle East is closer than ever and could be finalized within 24 hours. with Pakistan preparing for an electronic signing and technical-level talks next week.
In Washington, the White House did not answer questions about where things stood in negotiations or when a deal might be signed. In Tehran, Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson said no signing would occur Sunday, while leaving the possibility open for the coming days.
Sharif’s promise of a breakthrough within a day lands after previous declarations of an imminent breakthrough failed to materialize. And it comes as fighting has already pushed the region toward full-scale war: Iran exchanged fire with the U.S. and Israel earlier in the week, and late Friday the U.S. Central Command said on social media that it intercepted Iranian attack drones targeting commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
A fragile ceasefire has been in place since April 7, after the war launched by the U.S. and Israel on Feb. 28 rattled the region and virtually shut down oil and natural gas shipments from the Persian Gulf.
The roadmap being discussed in recent days has three major pressure points: Iran’s nuclear program, the strait’s reopening, and sanctions relief—plus the unanswered question of what happens in Lebanon.
A 60-day period would be used to address Iran’s nuclear program. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Friday the terms of dealing with Iran’s nuclear program would be finalized in the 60 days after the initial agreement is signed. and the parties could decide to extend that period. The U.S. and Israel fear Iran’s nuclear program could lead to an atomic weapon. which leaders cited as a main reason for going to war. Tehran has insisted its nuclear efforts are for peaceful purposes.
A senior U.S. administration official. who briefed reporters on condition of anonymity under ground rules set by the White House. said Friday that the emerging agreement would begin the process of destroying or removing Tehran’s highly enriched uranium. The official said the 60-day period after both sides sign the deal would be used to work out the technical details for removing the uranium. which is believed to be entombed under three nuclear sites battered by U.S. strikes last year. The official did not say who the U.S. envisions taking charge of removing the uranium.
The emerging agreement also includes provisions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Araghchi said Iran wants a deal that allows Tehran to charge ships “for services rendered” when they transit the strait. Iran imposed a toll system during the war, which the U.S. and other nations have said violates international law.
Transit through the strait has been disrupted, and the consequences have stretched far beyond the region—driving up fuel prices and making food and other basics like fertilizer more expensive well beyond the Persian Gulf.
Sanctions and frozen funds are expected to be part of the deal as well. Three regional officials said the emerging deal was expected to include the phased lifting of sanctions on Iran and the release of frozen Iranian assets. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the negotiations. They said they expect a signing ceremony in the coming days after officials in Washington and Tehran approve it.
What happens in Lebanon remains unclear, and it’s where the uncertainty could be most difficult to manage. Iran has insisted that any deal must include a ceasefire in Lebanon. where Israel has been fighting the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned Friday that Israel could still act independently toward Iran and that Israel would not pull out of the zones it is occupying in Lebanon. Syria and Gaza. nor would it withdraw from the northern refugee camps of the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Fighting continued in southern Lebanon on Saturday.
The tight timetable Sharif described—electronic signing within 24 hours. followed by technical talks next week—collides with the lack of clarity coming from both capitals. The result is a familiar tension: a possible agreement on paper. and a region still absorbing the aftershocks of the week’s exchanges of fire and drone interceptions.
In the meantime. the fragile ceasefire that has been holding since April 7 sits alongside the possibility of a negotiated end to the broader war—one that. according to the accounts of what is being discussed. would reorder the nuclear process and reopen one of the world’s most vital shipping lanes. while leaving Lebanon’s fate uncertain.
United States Iran deal Strait of Hormuz nuclear program Shehbaz Sharif Abbas Araghchi sanctions relief Lebanon ceasefire Israel Katz highly enriched uranium
“electronic signing” lol so they’re doing paperwork on Zoom now?
So basically Pakistan says it’s close but White House is being weird and silent. If it’s signed in 24 hours why won’t the US just say it? Seems like someone’s stalling.
Wait, no signing Sunday?? That sounds like they already signed and are just trying to cover it up. Also the drone stuff targeting ships… I mean that’s just gonna keep happening until someone agrees to send oil back, right?
I don’t trust any of this. Every time they say “closer than ever” it ends up with more missiles and then suddenly a ceasefire. Strait of Hormuz being “reopened” makes it sound like it’s just a gate they can open/close, but it’s probably more about sanctions relief. And what about Lebanon—are they gonna sign that part too or nah? White House silence is always a bad sign.