The world is on the verge of a historic breakthrough as the United States and Iran edge closer to signing a peace agreement. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced that the deal could be finalized and signed electronically within the next 24 hours. This development comes after months of intense negotiations and mediation efforts, with Pakistan playing a central role.
The impending agreement aims to bring an end to the US-Israeli war with Iranwhich has caused significant regional instability and global economic strain. The deal is expected to include a memorandum of understanding, followed by technical-level talks in the coming weeks. However, Iran’s Foreign Ministry has clarified that the signing will not occur on Sunday, indicating that the exact timeline is still under discussion.
Key Terms of the US-Iran Peace Deal
The proposed agreement is structured in two stages. The first stage involves a memorandum of understanding that would halt fighting, including Israel’s offensive in Lebanon, and include commitments not to relaunch attacks. The second stage would address critical issues such as the future of Iran’s nuclear programmethe lifting of sanctions, and the unfreezing of Iran’s assets.
A senior US official has revealed that the memorandum of understanding would involve significant sanctions relief and the unfreezing of Iranian assets in exchange for Iran agreeing to dismantle its nuclear programme and hand over its nuclear material. However, the official emphasized that Iran would not immediately receive anything upon the deal’s signing, and that the lifting of sanctions and release of funds would be contingent on Iranian compliance.
The Role of Pakistan and Regional Partners
Pakistan has been instrumental in mediating the negotiations between the US and Iran. Prime Minister Sharif expressed gratitude to both countries for their efforts and acknowledged the support of regional partners. He stated that the agreement would serve as the basis for long-term peace and stability in the region.
Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar welcomed the US-Iran negotiations being in their final stage during a call with his Saudi counterpart. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sharif conveyed appreciation to his Qatari counterpart for supporting Pakistani peace efforts through the crisis.
Contradictory Statements and Uncertainty
Despite the optimism surrounding the Peace Deal, there have been contradictory statements from various parties. Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei stated that a US-Iran agreement would not be signed on Sunday, adding that the exact time of signing the memorandum of understanding is still uncertain.
US President Donald Trump has also weighed in on the negotiations, expressing confidence that a peace deal would be finalized soon. He announced that the deal would be signed the following day and claimed that the Strait of Hormuz would be opened to all. However, he also criticized Iranian reports detailing supposed terms of the agreement, which have not been publicly released.
A senior US official pushed back on the characterisation, stating that the deal being discussed would see the dismantling of Iran’s nuclear programme, the destruction of nuclear material, and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. The official also mentioned that the US would participate in de-mining the Strait of Hormuz once the accord is sealed.
The latest diplomatic flurry comes after the US and Iran traded two days of strikes this week, threatening to end a pause in fighting that has seen a handful of flare-ups since April 8. The impending peace deal represents a significant step toward ending the conflict and restoring stability to the region.
