Trump: Iran Deal Could Be Signed Sunday, Strait of Hormuz to Reopen

Pakistan, acting as a key mediator, said Saturday that the two sides could finalize a deal "within 24 hours" to end the conflict [172059]. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif later confirmed that the agreement would include the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for global oil shipments, as part of an extension to the current ceasefire [172019]. Three regional officials told The Associated Press that the emerging deal is expected to reopen the strait and includes the phased lifting of sanctions on Iran and the release of frozen Iranian assets [171747].

President Trump confirmed the timeline in a post on his social media platform Truth Social, stating that the U.S. is set to sign a new agreement with Iran as soon as Sunday [172230]. Trump claimed the deal would prevent Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and would reopen the Strait of Hormuz to international shipping [172230]. He added that he reserves the "ultimate alternative" if Tehran refuses to sign [172230]. Earlier, Trump said a peace agreement "could be signed over the weekend" and may take place in Europe [170998].

However, Iranian officials have given conflicting signals. While Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posted that an agreement “has never been closer,” he gave no details, saying a final deal was still pending [171747]. Iranian officials have contradicted Pakistan’s claim that a deal would be signed Sunday, creating uncertainty over the exact timeline [172197]. A statement from Iran’s Foreign Ministry indicated that an agreement may not be reached tomorrow, but could be finalized in the coming days [172211].

Officials have decided not to discuss the nuclear issue at this stage of the negotiations [172211]. A diplomat briefed on the matter told CNN that both sides have agreed on the text of a memorandum of understanding, which would extend the current ceasefire and set the stage for further negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program [171751]. The fragile ceasefire has been in place since April 7 [171747].

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has disrupted global energy supplies, driven up fuel prices, and made food and other basics more expensive worldwide [171747]. The U.S. has responded since mid-April with a naval blockade of Iranian ports to choke off Iran’s oil exports [171747]. Markets rallied and oil prices dipped after Trump announced the U.S. is close to reaching a deal, and he confirmed that he has called off planned military strikes against Iran [171112].

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