Topline
A peace agreement between the U.S. and Iran is closer “than ever before,” Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Saturday morning, expressing confidence a deal would be signed soon after President Donald Trump said this week a finalized agreement was close.
Sharif said Saturday a peace deal is closer “than ever before.”
(Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
Key Facts
Sharif said in a post finalization of the peace deal is “likely expected in the next 24 hours.”
The prime minister added that Pakistan is preparing for the peace deal to be electronically signed and followed by “technical level talks” next week.
Trump on Thursday canceled a round of strikes against Iran before announcing an agreement was close, saying, “final points have been, in both concept and great detail, approved by all parties involved.”
The president and Vice President JD Vance denied on Friday that the agreement heavily favored Iran, with Vance saying he saw “a lot of fake information about a potential deal” that would not involve the release of Iran’s frozen assets “for simply signing a deal or attending a meeting.”
What Do We Know About The U.S.-Iran Peace Deal?
While details of the agreement have yet to be confirmed by the White House, Reuters reported that under the deal, the U.S. would immediately unfreeze billions of dollars in Iranian assets and lift oil sanctions in return for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial oil shipping route between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. Reuters, citing unnamed sources from Iran, the West and mediators, reported the deal would not involve an immediate commitment from Iran to end its nuclear program, with discussions about the program being delayed for 60 days.
Key Background
Trump, who has claimed victory over Iran several times throughout the last few months, said Thursday the peace deal was “in pretty final shape” and could be signed “maybe over the weekend, in Europe.” The president also said an agreement on nuclear issues was “conceptually” reached. Iran’s foreign ministry said Thursday no final agreement was reached and that Iran’s “red line” in negotiations would not be moved. The U.S.-Israeli war against Iran has continued for over 100 days. Trump claimed in the early days of the war it would last roughly four to five weeks and has justified military action by claiming Iran was two weeks away from developing a nuclear weapon.
Further Reading
Trump And Vance Angrily Deny Peace Deal Favors Iran (Forbes)
Trump Might Lift Sanctions On Iran—After Blasting Obama For Doing It (Forbes)