US President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that a long-anticipated agreement aimed at ending the ongoing conflict with Iran is expected to be signed on Sunday, with the immediate reopening of the strategic Strait of Hormuz. In a statement posted on his Truth Social platform, Trump declared, “The Deal is scheduled to get signed tomorrow, and immediately after it is signed, the Hormuz Strait is OPEN TO ALL.” He described the potential accord as a milestone in US-Iran relations, contrasting it with previous administrations’ approaches.
The Strait of Hormuz, a crucial maritime chokepoint through which approximately 25 percent of the world’s oil and gas shipments pass, has been effectively closed by Iran since February following a US-Israeli strike that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and many members of his family. The reopening of the waterway is expected to have significant implications for global energy markets and regional stability.
While Trump expressed confidence in the imminent signing, Iranian officials conveyed a more cautious outlook. Esmail Baghaei, spokesperson for Iran’s Foreign Ministry, stated that finalization of a memorandum of understanding could take several more days, emphasizing the need for prudence amid what he described as instability on the other side. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps echoed this stance, confirming the agreement had not yet been finalized.
The prospective deal, mediated by Pakistan, envisions a truce lasting approximately 60 days and establishes a framework for negotiations focused on dismantling or destroying Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium. Trump indicated that US forces would eventually undertake operations to seize and neutralize this uranium, which is believed to be stored in deep underground facilities within Iran. However, Iranian officials have stressed their insistence on maintaining the right to uranium enrichment, suggesting dilution of the material within Iran as a possible resolution.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who has acted as a broker in the talks, confirmed that the electronic signing ceremony is scheduled for Sunday and described the agreement as closer than ever before. Sharif’s office and other diplomatic sources noted that the deal could pave the way for further negotiations concerning nuclear disarmament and efforts to de-mine the Strait of Hormuz. Trump is also expected to engage with leaders of several Gulf states, including Egypt, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, during the upcoming Group of Seven (G7) summit to coordinate regional security measures.
Tensions in the region remain high despite progress in talks. US Central Command reported downing multiple Iranian drones targeting commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz shortly before the announcement of the agreement’s expected signing. Additionally, an unidentified projectile struck a ship near Oman, underscoring ongoing volatility.
The agreement reportedly includes provisions for lifting the US naval blockade of Iranian ports and might involve the unfreezing of frozen Iranian assets, though details remain classified. Iran’s state media have also publicized plans for funeral ceremonies for the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, set to take place in early July, reflecting the conflict’s profound human toll.
Although both sides have underscored the potential for a new chapter of cooperation, President Trump cautioned that failure to fully implement the agreement would provoke serious repercussions, describing an unspecified “ultimate alternative” measure. The international community, including the United Kingdom, has conveyed support for the prospective deal and emphasized the necessity of restoring freedom of navigation to alleviate global economic pressures.
As the situation evolves, diplomats and analysts will be closely monitoring the signing process and subsequent developments to assess whether the fragile ceasefire can hold and what impact the agreement might have on long-standing regional disputes, including ongoing hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.