Pakistan Says Final Agreed Text Of U.S.-Iran Peace Deal Reached, Sharif Says

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said a “final, agreed upon text” of a U.S.-Iran peace deal has been reached and that Pakistan “is now working closely with both sides to finalize the next steps.”

Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said a deal has “never been closer” and that details of the U.S. agreement would be shared publicly “in due course.”

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CBS News reported that a new plan would have the U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding digitally signed, with Araghchi saying the remote signing would happen “in the next few days” and then be announced to the public.

NBC News said two Iranian drones were shot down last night by the U.S. official, while Iranian media reported its military had stopped a tanker from passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

The talks are framed as moving from a memorandum of understanding to a 60-day period of detailed negotiations, with CBS News noting the U.S. and mediators were still planning for an in person signing in Europe as of Friday morning.

CNN reported that a signed memorandum of understanding would trigger 60 more days of “technical” negotiations, while Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the memorandum would address the regime’s nuclear program and sanctions relief.

Araghchi told Iranian state television that the agreement includes a resolution for the conflict of Lebanon “and all other fronts,” and he said a statement on future control of the Strait of Hormuz should be expected “soon.”

Al Jazeera

NBC News said Araghchi told state TV that the negotiations are structured in 2 stages, with the first stage being writing the memorandum and the second stage the start of formal negotiations.

The Guardian reported that Araghchi said nuclear talks with the U.S. would only take place at a later stage, and that “the only preferred solution for its highly enriched uranium stockpile is down-blending the material.”

CBS News also reported Araghchi’s view that Iran wants a deal that allows Tehran to charge ships “for services rendered” when they transit the Strait of Hormuz, with Araghchi adding, “There will be costs involved,” and “those costs must be paid.”

Al Jazeera reported that Trump condemned Iran after extensive reporting by Iranian media on the terms being discussed, and it quoted Trump insisting the leaked terms had “NOTHING to do with the terms that were agreed to in writing.”

“A potential breakthrough in negotiations between the US and Iran appeared closer, with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif saying that a “final, agreed upon text” of a peace deal had been reached and that the remaining “next steps” would soon be finalised”

Al Jazeera

Al Jazeera also quoted Defence analyst Wolfgang Pusztai saying an unconditional reopening of the Strait of Hormuz would mark “a major step forward,” while warning that if the agreement does not work, he expects “some more limited American strikes.”

Fox News said the UAE Foreign Ministry “categorically” rejected claims it had “released, transferred, or moved” frozen assets belonging to Iran, describing the reports as “untrue and not based on any facts or reliable information.”

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported that a senior U.S. administration official said the likelihood of a final signing was around “80 to 85 percent,” while adding “We’re not quite at the finish line yet, but we are very close.”

Council on Foreign Relations said the expectation is that an MOU would extend the ceasefire for at least sixty days and open the Strait of Hormuz, while quoting Steven Cook warning that even if an MOU is announced, negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program will be “long and difficult.”