Trump Says War-Ending Deal to Be Signed Sunday, Iran Says Not So Fast

Pakistan announced Saturday that an initial agreement to end the Middle East war would be signed Sunday, with U.S. President Donald Trump also stating the deal was set to be signed. Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif indicated that the parties had agreed on a general framework for peace and that Islamabad was preparing an electronic signature for Sunday, followed by technical discussions next week.

However, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmaeil Baghaei, urged caution regarding the timeline. "We will have to wait to know the exact date of the signing of the memorandum of understanding, although it will not be tomorrow," Baghaei stated, according to state media. He added that while a signing in the coming days is possible, "due to the doubts of the other party, we must be cautious when commenting on this process."

Trump also posted on social media that the agreement with Iran was scheduled for Sunday and that the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil supply, would be "open for all" immediately after the signing. A U.S. official later avoided confirming a specific date but assured reporters it was a "great deal and a very solid deal."

This apparent progress follows a week of heightened tensions, including joint attacks by the U.S. and Israel on targets in Iran, and Iran exchanging fire with the U.S. and Israel. The conflict has driven up global energy prices and caused thousands of deaths, particularly in Iran and Lebanon, where fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, an ally of Tehran, has reignited.

Earlier in the week, U.S. Central Command (Centcom) confirmed that U.S. forces shot down several Iranian attack drones heading toward the Strait of Hormuz, which a source familiar with the matter said posed a threat to commercial traffic. Centcom stated the maritime passage remained open.