Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that a “final, agreed upon text of the peace deal” between the United States and Iran has been reached.
He stated that Pakistan is now working with both sides to finalize the next steps. “Peace has never been this close as it is now,” he added.
In a post on X, Sharif said that Pakistan was engaged in “ongoing intense mediation efforts” and accused unnamed actors of spreading “incessant misinformation” aimed at undermining the process.
Also, Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, Esmaeil Baghaei, said that the relevant institutions are meeting as they are in the “final stages of summarising the text of the understanding.”
Baghaei said that he could not comment on the time and place of the possible MoU signing, adding that they must wait for the “final decision to be made internally.” “I cannot confirm any of the speculations about the text of the understandings,” he said, adding that the “fact that details of the diplomatic process cannot be discussed does not mean the people are not privy to it.”
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in an X post that an agreement “has never been closer.” Araghchi told Iranian state TV that both sides were working toward signing an initial agreement declaring an end to the war “on all fronts, including Lebanon.”
Araghchi said that terms dealing with Iran’s nuclear program would be finalized in the 60 days after the initial agreement is signed. He said that the parties could agree to extend that period.
Iran’s nuclear program has been a key point of division. The U.S. and Israel fear it could lead to an atomic weapon, a main reason their leaders cited for going to war. Tehran has insisted its nuclear efforts are for peaceful purposes.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel is not a party to the deal being negotiated. He said in a statement today that he and U.S President Donald Trump were in “full agreement” that Iran must not have nuclear weapons.
Also critical is Iran’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping lane for oil and natural gas. Disruption of transit through the strait has crimped global energy supplies, driven up fuel prices and made food and other basics more expensive well beyond the region.
Araghchi said that Iran wants a deal that allows Tehran to charge ships “for services rendered” when they transit the Strait of Hormuz. “There will be costs involved and those costs must be paid,” Araghchi said. Iran has imposed a toll system during the war, which the U.S. and other nations say violates international law.
The deal was largely being brokered by Pakistan, led by its army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, the regional officials said, with backing from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt, and Qatar.
Separately, Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani discussed US-Iran mediation efforts in a phone call with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty.
A statement from Qatar’s foreign ministry said that the two officials expressed satisfaction with the progress achieved in negotiations. They welcomed Pakistan’s announcement that a final text of the agreement had been reached, and said they hoped both Washington and Tehran would move swiftly to sign the deal.
The ministry noted that both sides reaffirmed their support for ongoing diplomatic efforts and expressed hope for lasting peace and stability in the region.
Switzerland Offers To Host Possible US-Iran Deal Signing
Meanwhile, the Swiss foreign ministry asserted that Switzerland has offered to host a possible signing of an MoU between the US and Iran, “should the parties agree to it.”
The ministry said in a brief statement that Switzerland is fully engaged. “We are in close contact with the United States and Iran,” it noted.
The ministry added that it was playing an active role “to support efforts toward a Memorandum of Understanding intended to consolidate the truce and pave the way for de-escalation in the context of the conflict between Iran and the USA.”
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