U.S. and Iran Near Historic Peace Deal to Reopen Strait of Hormuz, but Disagree on Signing Timeline

Trump and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced that a historic peace agreement to end the four-month war between the United States and Iran is scheduled to be signed electronically on Sunday. The deal promises to immediately reopen the Strait of Hormuz to international shipping and lift the U.S. naval blockade on Iranian ports.[2][4][5]

However, a stark disconnect remains regarding the exact timeline. While Trump, who turns 80 on Sunday, insisted the signing was imminent, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei explicitly stated that the agreement "will not be tomorrow," though he acknowledged it could happen in the coming days.[1][5][7]

The proposed memorandum of understanding aims to cement a fragile ceasefire that has been in place since April. According to draft terms, the U.S. would unfreeze approximately $24 billion in Iranian assets and suspend sanctions on Tehran's oil exports. In exchange, Iran would lift its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global energy markets that has been a central flashpoint of the conflict.[3][5]

The most contentious element of the agreement involves Iran's nuclear program, and the two sides are publicly broadcasting vastly different interpretations of the terms. President Trump claimed on social media that the deal represents a "wall to no nuclear weapon," asserting that the U.S. would retrieve and destroy Iran's nuclear material.[4][8]

Conversely, Iranian officials and regional mediators indicate that the initial agreement does not mandate the immediate dismantling of Tehran's nuclear infrastructure. Instead, the pact establishes a 60-day window for dedicated technical negotiations regarding the nuclear program, with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi suggesting that Tehran intends to retain its uranium stockpile in a diluted form rather than surrendering it entirely.[5][6]

The diplomatic push is occurring against a backdrop of active hostilities. Early Saturday, U.S. Central Command reported shooting down multiple Iranian one-way attack drones in the Strait of Hormuz. The drones were reportedly targeting commercial vessels, prompting Trump to label the incident "totally unacceptable" even as he touted the impending peace agreement.[4][6]

Inside Iran, the prospect of a deal has ignited fierce domestic opposition. Dozens of hardline protesters gathered outside a Foreign Ministry office in the northeastern city of Mashhad on Saturday, waving black and red flags and chanting "death to dishonorable Araghchi, the infiltrator." These factions argue that relinquishing control over the Strait of Hormuz deprives Tehran of its most potent strategic leverage and accuses the negotiating team of making excessive concessions.[4][7]

The impending agreement has also triggered alarm in Israel, which was involved in the initial February strikes that sparked the broader conflict. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that his government expects the U.S. to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, while senior Israeli officials expressed deep concern that Tehran will secure massive economic relief without providing ironclad, verifiable guarantees regarding its nuclear ambitions.[4][5]

Pakistan has played a central role in brokering the agreement, hosting talks in Islamabad after the April truce failed to produce a long-term resolution. Prime Minister Sharif expressed confidence that the historic deal would form a strong foundation for lasting peace, noting that technical-level talks are scheduled to commence next week once the electronic signatures are secured.[2][6]

If finalized, the treaty would mark a dramatic de-escalation of a conflict that has roiled global markets and threatened to engulf the broader Middle East. Yet, with hardliners in Tehran protesting the terms, Israel voicing security concerns, and the U.S. and Iran fundamentally disagreeing on the nuclear provisions, the durability of the proposed peace remains highly precarious.[3][5][7]