US and Iran on Verge of Peace Deal to End War and Reopen Strait of Hormuz

The United States and Iran are on the precipice of a historic peace agreement to end their months-long war, with US President Donald Trump and Pakistani mediators announcing that a deal could be signed as early as Sunday.[1][2]

The prospective agreement aims to immediately reopen the Strait of Hormuz—a critical artery for global oil supplies that has been blocked since the conflict escalated—and establish a framework to dismantle Tehran's nuclear program.[2][3]

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, whose government has served as the lead mediator, stated Saturday that a "final, agreed upon text" had been reached. Sharif indicated that Islamabad was preparing to facilitate an electronic signing within 24 hours, which would be followed by technical-level talks next week.[6][7]

However, the diplomatic timeline remains heavily contested. Iran's Foreign Ministry quickly pushed back against the Sunday target, with spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei stating that while a signing in the coming days cannot be ruled out, it will not happen on Sunday due to the "hesitation of the other side."[1][4][6]

The breakthrough follows months of intense conflict that began with joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran in late February 2026, prompting Tehran to block the Strait of Hormuz and target commercial shipping in retaliation.[4][6]

A fragile truce implemented in early April paused the worst of the fighting, but negotiations have repeatedly stalled over the sequencing of sanctions relief, nuclear inspections, and control of the strategic waterway.[6][8]

President Trump framed the emerging deal as a definitive victory for Washington. In a social media post, he declared the agreement "a wall to no nuclear weapon," asserting that Iran would no longer possess or pursue nuclear arms under the new paradigm.[2][3]

According to US officials briefing reporters, the deal would extend the current ceasefire by 60 days to allow for technical discussions. It reportedly requires Iran to surrender its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, which Trump claimed would be retrieved and destroyed by the US once the region stabilizes.[5][6][8]

To counter domestic criticism from political hawks, US Vice President JD Vance clarified that the agreement does not involve the upfront release of frozen Iranian assets. Vance insisted that any economic benefits would strictly depend on Tehran meeting its obligations under a rigorous inspection regime.[7]

In Tehran, the government is attempting to sell the deal as a strategic triumph. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told state television that the agreement forces the lifting of the US naval blockade on Iranian ports and alters the administration of the Strait of Hormuz, which he called one of Iran's "main instruments of deterrence."[2][3]

But the prospect of peace has ignited fierce domestic backlash within Iran. Hardline factions accuse the negotiating team of capitulation, arguing that the deal strips Tehran of its most potent geopolitical leverage without guaranteeing permanent sanctions relief.[2]

On Saturday, dozens of protesters gathered outside a foreign ministry office in the northeastern city of Mashhad. Waving black and red flags, demonstrators chanted slogans denouncing Araghchi as an "infiltrator" and demanding the immediate rejection of the American terms.[2]

The fragility of the situation was underscored by continued military friction. Early Saturday morning, just hours after mediators touted the imminent deal, US Central Command reported shooting down multiple Iranian one-way attack drones in the Strait of Hormuz.[2][8]

The drones were reportedly targeting commercial vessels attempting to transit the waterway. President Trump condemned the drone launches as "totally unacceptable," warning Tehran to "get their act together, and fast" if they want the diplomatic process to survive.[2][8]

If finalized, the agreement would mark a profound shift in Middle Eastern geopolitics. Beyond ending direct hostilities, it holds the potential to stabilize global energy markets that have been deeply rattled by the closure of the world's most important oil chokepoint.[4][6]