US and Iran Reach Final Text for Peace Agreement Following Pakistani Mediation

The United States and Iran have reached a "final, agreed upon text" for a peace agreement, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced on Friday, signaling a potential end to the war that erupted in late February.

The breakthrough comes after intense mediation by Islamabad, which has hosted indirect and direct talks between the two adversaries for months. Sharif stated on the social media platform X that "peace has never been this close as it is now," adding that Pakistani diplomats are working closely with Washington and Tehran to finalize the immediate next steps.[1][3]

US President Donald Trump corroborated the diplomatic progress, telling reporters in the Oval Office that the deal is "pretty much completed" and that a formal signing could take place as early as this weekend in Europe. Trump stated that the agreement would secure the reopening of critical shipping lanes and ensure that Iran does not pursue nuclear weapons. Vice President JD Vance, who previously traveled to Islamabad in April to negotiate directly with Iranian officials, is expected to attend the signing ceremony if the final hurdles are cleared.[2]

The diplomatic breakthrough follows a perilous week in the Middle East that nearly saw the conflict spiral out of control. Just days ago, the fragile ceasefire brokered by Pakistan in early April appeared to collapse as the US and Iran exchanged a series of tit-for-tat missile strikes. The escalation prompted Trump to threaten a massive retaliatory bombardment against Iranian assets, before he abruptly canceled the strikes on Thursday, citing the sudden progress in the peace negotiations.[1][2][4]

According to regional officials and leaked details of the draft, the "Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding" centers on a 60-day extension of the current ceasefire and the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. The vital shipping lane, which normally facilitates roughly 20 percent of the world's fuel supply, has been effectively shut down by a US naval blockade and Iranian military action since the war began. The agreement reportedly mandates a return to pre-war shipping volumes within 30 days, with the US lifting its blockade in tandem.[2]

Beyond maritime security, the framework outlines a phased lifting of US sanctions and the release of frozen Iranian assets to provide economic relief to Tehran. In exchange, the tentative deal includes provisions for the removal and destruction of Iran's highly enriched uranium. However, both US and Iranian officials have indicated that the current memorandum does not resolve every aspect of Iran's nuclear program; instead, it establishes a 60-day window during which detailed nuclear negotiations will take place.[2]

Despite the optimism from Washington and Islamabad, Iranian leadership has maintained a more cautious public stance. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed that an agreement "has never been closer," but he urged the media to refrain from speculating on the exact terms until the text is officially finalized. Iranian state media and foreign ministry spokespeople emphasized that the country's supreme leadership has not yet given final approval, warning that Tehran will not compromise on its core red lines.[2][3]

Israel, which launched the initial military action alongside the US on February 28, is not a direct party to the negotiations. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Friday that he is in "complete agreement" with Trump that Iran must be permanently stripped of its nuclear capabilities. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz reiterated expectations that the US will uphold principles preventing Iran from supporting regional proxy groups, noting that Israel will closely monitor the enforcement of the deal.

If signed, the agreement would mark a historic diplomatic pivot, ending months of direct military confrontation that have rattled global energy markets and threatened to engulf the broader Middle East. Yet diplomats close to the talks warn that the deal still faces significant vulnerabilities. With hardliners in both Washington and Tehran scrutinizing the concessions, and the volatile security environment on the ground prone to sudden escalations, officials estimate there remains a substantial risk that the agreement could collapse before the ink is dry.[2][4]