Trump and Pakistan claim US-Iran peace deal will be signed; Tehran fights back – Key takeaways
The United States and Iran appear to be closing in on a deal to end the war, with both U.S. President Donald Trump and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, whose government has been actively promoting talks between Washington and Tehran, saying a peace deal is close to being finalized and could be signed soon.ALSO READ | Deal or no deal? U.S. and Iran clashing over peace terms have world on edgeHowever, while Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said understanding between the two sides has “never been closer,” Tehran officials remained cautious, insisting that several key issues remained unresolved and dismissing reports that a formal signing ceremony had been scheduled.Here’s what we know about the ‘peace deal’ between the U.S. and IranDonald Trump to sign deal on SundayTrump said on Saturday that a deal to end the conflict with Iran would be signed on Sunday and that the strategically important Strait of Hormuz would be immediately reopened to international shipping.“The agreement is due to be signed tomorrow and immediately upon signing, the Strait of Hormuz will be open to everyone,” he wrote on Truth Social, describing what would amount to a major diplomatic breakthrough after months of tensions and negotiations.The US president also compared the proposed deal to the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) negotiated under former President Barack Obama.“Barack Hussein Obama’s Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) with Iran is a simple, good, smooth path to a nuclear weapon, which Iran had six years ago and used long ago. My deal with Iran is the exact opposite, a nuclear-weapon-free wall! In fact, they no longer want nuclear weapons and will not have them through purchase, development, or any other form of procurement,” Trump posted.However, Trump has repeatedly predicted that a deal is imminent. Including his latest remarks, he now claims 39 different occasions The agreement is about to be signed.Sherbaz Sharif: US and Iran reach agreement within 24 hoursTrump’s remarks came shortly after a speech by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Announce A peace deal is “likely” to be finalized within the next 24 hours.Sharif wrote onPakistan’s foreign ministry also released details of a conversation between Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan.Prince Faisal praised Islamabad’s “continuous efforts” to promote mediation and dialogue throughout the negotiations, the statement said.The latest optimism contrasts with the outcome of the first round of talks held in Islamabad on April 12-13, which ended without a breakthrough.Iran remains cautiousMeanwhile, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei refuted reports that the deal would be signed on Sunday.“We have to wait for the specific time for the signing; although it will not be tomorrow,” Iran’s Islamic Republic News Agency quoted Baqai as saying.He added that while no signings were expected on Sunday, “the possibility of this happening in the coming days cannot be ruled out.”Baghaei also dismissed reports that Iranian negotiators were preparing to travel to Geneva or Islamabad for a signing ceremony, denying that Tehran’s negotiating team planned to visit the two cities “in the next day or two” despite earlier Pakistani statements suggesting that a deal could be finalized within 24 hours.Iran agrees not to develop nuclear weapons?Senior Trump administration officials have said the proposed deal would require Iran to permanently give up developing or acquiring nuclear weapons, eliminate its stockpile of enriched nuclear material and dismantle infrastructure that could be used for weapons production.Any sanctions relief will be implemented in phases only after rigorous verification and inspections confirm Iran’s compliance, with a 60-day technical negotiation period expected to hammer out implementation details.The official further said that the agreement would still allow Tehran to maintain a civilian nuclear energy program as long as it cannot be used as a path to develop nuclear weapons.(with ANI input)
