ISLAMABAD: In a development being viewed as a potentially historic step towards peace in the Middle East, Islamabad is preparing for the electronic signing of a framework agreement between the United States and Iran.
The signing is expected to be followed by technical-level negotiations next week, although uncertainty remains over the exact date, with US President Donald Trump saying it would take place on Sunday while Iranian officials insist it will not happen that soon.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced on X on Saturday that the agreement was expected to be finalised within the next 24 hours. He stated that the two sides were closer to a peace deal than ever before and expressed hope that the agreement would establish a strong foundation for lasting peace in the region.
Soon after the prime minister’s post, President Trump reshared the message on social media. However, Iranian authorities dismissed suggestions that the so-called “Islamabad MoU” would be signed on Sunday.
Despite the disagreement over timing, both Washington and Tehran have indicated that the agreement is likely to be signed within the next few days.
In a post on Truth Social, President Trump maintained that the deal was scheduled to be signed on Sunday and said the agreement would lead to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. He stressed that no financial payments would be involved and added that, once stability was restored, arrangements would be made to collect and dispose of nuclear material, either in Iran or the United States.
Trump also expressed optimism about future cooperation with Iran and the broader Middle East, saying he hoped the process would proceed quickly and smoothly. At the same time, he warned that the United States retained other options should diplomacy fail.
Iranian officials, while rejecting the Sunday timeline, acknowledged that the agreement was nearing completion. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said the memorandum would not be signed on Sunday but noted that signing it in the coming days remained a possibility.
Baghaei urged caution regarding speculation over the signing date, citing uncertainty on the part of the other side. He said it was necessary to wait for confirmation of the exact timing and added that Iranian representatives would not be travelling to either Geneva or Islamabad, the reported venues under consideration, within the next day or two.
Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian reflected on the country’s 12-day conflict with Israel last year, saying the war demonstrated national unity and showed that Iranians stood together whenever the country’s interests were at stake.
As diplomatic efforts advanced, attention also remained focused on security developments in the Strait of Hormuz. According to Reuters, a senior US official said Washington would participate in de-mining operations in the strategic waterway once the agreement was finalised.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Bagher Ghalibaf emphasised that any understanding between Tehran and Washington must be backed by enforceable commitments, according to remarks carried by the semi-official Tasnim news agency.
Despite progress in negotiations, tensions persisted in the Strait of Hormuz. Reuters reported that US forces intercepted and destroyed several Iranian one-way attack drones heading towards the waterway. The US Central Command later confirmed the action and stated that maritime transit through the strait remained open.
Iranian media reported explosions near Sirik port and Qeshm Island along the Strait of Hormuz. Local authorities said the blasts resulted from warning shots fired by Iranian forces at vessels attempting to cross the waterway without permission from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy.
A day earlier, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had stated that Tehran would not impose tolls on shipping through the strait but intended to collect service fees, adding that details would be discussed further.
Separately, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre reported that a tanker had been struck by an unidentified projectile off the coast of Oman. The incident occurred on Friday approximately six nautical miles east of Oman. The crew remained safe, no environmental damage was reported, and the vessel continued its voyage towards its next destination.
On Saturday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif received a telephone call from Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani. According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, the Qatari leader praised both the Pakistani premier and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir for their role in advancing diplomatic efforts.
The statement said Prime Minister Shehbaz thanked Qatar for its steadfast support during the Gulf crisis and informed the Qatari leader that the peace agreement was ready for signatures by the relevant parties in the near future.
In a separate diplomatic engagement, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan welcomed the final phase of negotiations between the United States and Iran, according to a statement issued by the Foreign Office.
The two leaders expressed support for the ongoing process and welcomed the planned electronic signing ceremony. They also voiced hope that the agreement would contribute to lasting peace, security and stability across the region.