U.S. and Pakistan Announce Imminent Peace Deal with Iran to Reopen Strait of Hormuz

U.S. President Donald Trump and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced that a comprehensive peace agreement to end the months-long war with Iran is scheduled to be signed electronically on Sunday. The deal aims to formally conclude a conflict that began in late February with joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iranian territory. According to the U.S. administration, the immediate result of the signing will be the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global energy supplies that Iran has blockaded for months.[1][2][4]

Despite the optimism from Washington and Islamabad, officials in Tehran offered a more cautious timeline. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei stated that while an agreement is in the offing, the signing "will not be tomorrow." Baghaei emphasized that the possibility of finalizing the memorandum in the coming days remains high, but cited the "hesitation of the other side" as a reason for caution.[1][3][4]

The proposed framework centers on a mutual de-escalation of maritime choke points. Under the tentative terms, Iran would lift its blockade on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, while the United States would simultaneously lift its naval blockade of Iranian ports. U.S. officials have insisted that the strait must be opened with no tolls, though Iranian state media has suggested Tehran may still seek to charge for transit services.[3][4]

The most contentious element of the proposed agreement involves Iran's nuclear program, which was the stated rationale for the initial U.S.-Israeli military campaign. In a post on his Truth Social platform, President Trump claimed that Iran "no longer want a Nuclear Weapon, nor will they have one." He asserted that the agreement serves as a "wall" against Iranian nuclear ambitions and represents a definitive end to the country's procurement and development efforts.[1][2][6]

Trump further detailed an unconventional plan for the disposal of Iran's enriched uranium. He stated that when conditions are calm, the U.S. will deploy B-2 bombers to extract what he termed "Nuclear Dust" buried deep under "sunken granite mountains." According to the president, this material will be downblended and destroyed, either in Iran or the United States, ensuring the complete neutralization of the nuclear threat.[2][5][6]

Financial terms remain a point of public dispute between the warring parties. President Trump explicitly stated that "no money will exchange hands" under the new arrangement, criticizing the financial policies of previous U.S. administrations toward Tehran. Conversely, Iranian media outlets quoted Baghaei asserting that the release of Iran's frozen international assets is an integral component of the memorandum.[2][4]

Pakistan has played a central role in brokering the agreement, having previously mediated the April 8 truce that paused the heaviest fighting. Prime Minister Sharif confirmed that Islamabad is preparing the infrastructure for Sunday's electronic signing, which is expected to be followed by technical-level talks next week. Sharif described the two sides as being "closer to a peace deal than ever before."[2][3][4]

The urgency of the diplomatic breakthrough was underscored by ongoing volatility in the region. Just hours before the announcements, U.S. Central Command reported that American forces had shot down multiple Iranian one-way attack drones attempting to strike commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. The waterway's closure has severely throttled global oil and gas exports, sending energy prices sharply higher since the conflict began.[3][4][5]

While both sides are projecting confidence that the war is drawing to a close, the fragility of the moment remains apparent. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi noted that while his country emerged stronger from the conflict, late-stage changes to the deal are still possible. Meanwhile, President Trump coupled his optimism with a stark warning, stating that if the process does not proceed smoothly, the U.S. retains the "ultimate alternative"—an apparent threat of renewed military action.[4][5][6]