DUBAI/WASHINGTON — The United States and Iran are expected to sign an initial agreement aimed at ending more than three months of conflict on Sunday, according to U.S. President Donald Trump and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, whose government has been mediating negotiations between the two countries. However, Iranian officials have cautioned that several key issues remain under review and have not confirmed the timing of the signing.
In a statement on Saturday, Sharif said the two sides had agreed on a framework for a peace agreement and that Pakistan was preparing for an electronic signing ceremony, to be followed by technical-level discussions next week focused on finalizing details of the arrangement. Trump also said the agreement was expected to be signed Sunday and expressed optimism that it would mark a major step toward ending the conflict.
“We are closer to a peace deal than ever before,” Sharif said, adding that the proposed agreement could serve as a foundation for long-term regional stability.
Despite the optimism, Iranian officials have declined to confirm that a signing will occur immediately. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said that while large portions of the text have been finalized, Tehran has not yet reached a final decision on all aspects of the agreement and continues to review the proposal through its decision-making bodies.
The conflict began on Feb. 28 when the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes against targets in Iran. Iran subsequently targeted U.S. military facilities in the Gulf region, while Hezbollah militants in Lebanon launched attacks on Israel, expanding hostilities across the region. The war has resulted in thousands of deaths and contributed to volatility in global energy markets due to concerns over disruptions to Middle Eastern oil supplies.
According to sources familiar with the negotiations, the proposed memorandum of understanding would reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global oil shipments, and begin a 60-day negotiation period addressing Iran’s nuclear program. The United States has indicated that the talks should ultimately lead to the dismantling of Iran’s nuclear program, while Iran has signaled that it seeks to retain certain nuclear capabilities under negotiated conditions.
The framework also reportedly includes the release of frozen Iranian assets and the easing of some sanctions related to Iranian oil exports in exchange for guarantees that maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains open. Several details, however, remain under negotiation.
Military tensions have not completely subsided. U.S. forces recently intercepted Iranian attack drones near the Strait of Hormuz, underscoring the fragile security situation even as diplomatic efforts advance.
If signed, the agreement would represent the most significant diplomatic breakthrough since the conflict began and could help reduce tensions in one of the world’s most strategically important regions. Nevertheless, major questions surrounding Iran’s nuclear program, regional security arrangements, and implementation of the proposed terms are expected to remain subjects of intensive negotiations in the weeks ahead.ns in the weeks ahead.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
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