US President Donald Trump has claimed that a peace agreement between Iran and the United States, which would see the Strait of Hormuz open to all and impose restrictions on Iran's nuclear programme, is set to be signed within hours.
Trump's Social Media Announcement
In a post on social media, Trump indicated that a truce was imminent. He wrote on Truth Social: 'The Deal is scheduled to get signed tomorrow, and immediately after it is signed, the Hormuz Strait is OPEN TO ALL.'
Iranian Officials Push Back
Despite Trump's claims, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei pushed back, stating that the signing would not happen so swiftly. Baghaei attributed the delay to American 'inconsistency' and added that Iran needed to 'remain cautious.'
Trump's Warning
Trump cautioned that if matters fail to 'work out quickly, easily and smoothly,' Washington retained 'the ultimate alternative, hopefully never to be used again!'
Optimism from Pakistan
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif struck an optimistic note, declaring that 'we are closer to a peace deal than ever before.'
Mediation Efforts
Progress towards an agreement gathered pace as Qatari mediators travelled to Tehran to finalise the terms, according to two regional officials. Both expressed guarded optimism that Washington and Tehran were finally edging towards a resolution that could end hostilities which have claimed thousands of lives and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, whose closure has sent global markets into turmoil.
Deal Details
The agreement is anticipated to be signed digitally, without a face-to-face ceremony, although the precise timing and manner remain uncertain. The deal fails to resolve the most contentious matters between the US and Iran, including the nuclear programme or frozen assets, but establishes a 60-day framework for technical discussions on those issues, according to Pakistani and regional officials.
Negotiation Challenges
Those officials described Pakistan's months-long efforts spearheading the negotiations, repeatedly struggling to prevent both parties from abandoning the talks and averting a breakdown on several occasions. Under the terms of the current agreement under discussion, the US and Israel appear to have fallen short of their original ambitions of dismantling Iran's missile and nuclear programmes and severing its backing of proxy forces. It remains uncertain how the deal will tackle these matters, or whether they will feature in the final agreement.
Strait of Hormuz Demining
Meanwhile, Trump was anticipated to raise the issue of demining the Strait of Hormuz during the Group of Seven summit commencing on Monday. The waterway is vital to substantial shipments of oil, natural gas and related products such as fertiliser, and its effective closure sent shockwaves through the global economy.
