Trump, Sharif signal imminent US-Iran deal amid resistance in Tehran

A framework agreement aimed at ending months of hostilities between the United States and Iran could be signed within days, according to American and Pakistani officials, although Tehran has expressed reservations about the timing and hardline factions within Iran continue to oppose the proposed accord.

US President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that a framework agreement with Iran was expected to be signed on Sunday, coinciding with his 80th birthday. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also indicated that both sides had reached consensus on the broad outlines of a peace arrangement and that preparations were underway for an electronic signing ceremony, to be followed by technical discussions next week.

However, Iranian authorities stopped short of confirming a Sunday signing. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei urged caution regarding speculation over the timeline and was quoted by state media as saying, “It will not be tomorrow,” though he suggested an agreement could be reached “in the coming days.”

In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated that once the framework agreement is concluded, the Strait of Hormuz — one of the world’s most critical oil shipping routes — would immediately be “open to all.”

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Despite extensive damage inflicted on Iran’s military infrastructure during the conflict, analysts say the war has strengthened the influence of the country’s hardline Revolutionary Guard.

Social media footage and reports carried by Iranian news outlets showed groups of demonstrators gathering in public squares and outside the Foreign Ministry in Tehran to protest against the proposed agreement. Protesters appeared to target Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, chanting, “Araqchi have some shame, let go of America!”

The conflict began on February 28 when the United States and Israel launched military operations against Iran. At the onset of the war, Trump urged Iranians to challenge the country’s leadership and take control of state institutions.

Although diplomatic momentum has increased in recent days, military tensions remain. The United States continues to enforce a naval blockade on Iran, while efforts are underway to reduce Tehran’s influence over the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly one-fifth of global oil shipments passed before the conflict erupted.

The US military said it intercepted several Iranian one-way attack drones near the strategic waterway early Saturday. Meanwhile, Israel announced that it had carried out strikes on more than 70 targets linked to Hezbollah in Lebanon over a 24-hour period.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reportedly disagreed with Washington over calls to scale back Israeli military operations in Lebanon to facilitate negotiations between the United States and Iran.

On Friday, Araqchi maintained that the proposed agreement could still undergo changes but argued that Iran had emerged from the conflict in a stronger position.

Reports from across Iran indicated that hardline groups attending pro-government rallies on Saturday night openly criticised the draft framework.

A resident of Mashhad told Reuters that some demonstrators chanted: “Death to the compromiser,” apparently referring to Araqchi, while others shouted, “Compromiser, resign, resign.”

Sources involved in the negotiations said the proposed memorandum of understanding includes the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the removal of the US naval blockade. Discussions on Iran’s nuclear programme would be deferred to a later stage.

A US official told reporters: “Iran is going to open up the Strait of Hormuz, that’s a requirement. It could be open with no tolls. As they do that, we will lift our blockade.”

The official added: “It’s going to happen in conjunction, and part of the next step, the phase after that, is going to be the demining of the straits,” suggesting that members of the Group of Seven (G7) could assist in the process.

The White House said Trump also discussed efforts to bring the conflict to an end during a telephone conversation with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

According to sources familiar with the draft terms, Washington would begin releasing billions of dollars in frozen Iranian assets and ease sanctions on Iranian oil exports in exchange for Tehran reopening the crucial shipping route.

Iran’s Fars news agency quoted Baghaei as saying that access to frozen Iranian funds formed a central component of the agreement. He also reportedly stated that Iran would continue to levy charges for services provided in the Strait of Hormuz.

The agency further quoted him as saying that foreign military bases in the region should be dismantled, though no further details were provided.

Under the proposed framework, Iran’s nuclear programme would be addressed during a 60-day negotiation period. A US official said the process would eventually result in the dismantling of Iran’s nuclear programme, with its stockpile of highly enriched uranium destroyed and removed.

The prospective agreement is being viewed as a major diplomatic effort to end a conflict that has disrupted global energy markets and heightened instability across the Middle East, though opposition from hardliners in Iran continues to cast uncertainty over its final implementation.

(REUTERS)