US President Donald Trump declared on Saturday that a peace agreement with Iran would be signed on Sunday (June 14), a claim Iran promptly contradicted earlier in the day, even as the world held its breath over a deal that could reopen the Strait of Hormuz and end months of devastating conflict.
Trump said the agreement would be followed by the opening of the strait to global shipping, adding that relations with Iran have improved significantly compared to previous administrations.
"We look forward to working with Iran, and the entire Middle East, long into the future. Hopefully, this process will all work out quickly, easily, and smoothly," he wrote on Truth Social.
Trump said the deal would ensure Iran does not acquire nuclear weapons, describing it as placing a "wall to no nuclear weapon."
"In fact, they no longer want a nuclear weapon, nor will they have one, either through purchase, development, or any other form of procurement," he added.
He contrasted the proposed deal with past US policy, specifically the Obama administration's alleged financial arrangements with Tehran. "Unlike Obama's hundreds of billions of dollars in payments to them, including $1.7 billion in green, cold cash, no money will exchange hands," he claimed.
Trump was referring to the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement, under which Tehran agreed to curb its nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief. Contrary to his claim, however, the monetary transfers were not part of the deal itself but were linked to the settlement of a pre-1979 military contract between the two countries.
Trump added that efforts would be made, at an appropriate time, to address Iran's nuclear infrastructure — including facilities located deep underground — using advanced military capabilities if required. He also warned of using what he called the "ultimate alternative" if the peace process fails. But he did not elaborate on his statement.
Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was among the first to echo Trump's optimism.
"We are closer to a peace deal than ever before. With finalisation likely expected in the next 24 hours, Pakistan is preparing for the electronic signing of the peace deal immediately after, followed by technical-level talks next week," he wrote on X.
Sharif thanked both countries for their continued engagement and said the agreement would serve as the basis for long-term peace and stability in the region.
Iran, however, moved quickly to dispute the timeline. Senior officials in Tehran said a deal was unlikely to be signed on Sunday and that no schedule had been fixed.
Trump's declaration on Saturday was not his first expression of confidence. On June 12, speaking at the White House, he said the US had "just made a great settlement of the war with Iran" and that only final paperwork remained.
"We're going to be subject to finalisation of documents. It should get done over the next few days," he told reporters.
A day later, after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the two sides had "never been closer" to a deal, Trump amplified the message by re-sharing Araghchi's post on Truth Social. He also cancelled a planned military strike on Iran that he had earlier threatened.
The proposed US-Iran memorandum of understanding goes beyond a simple ceasefire. According to Axios, it includes sanctions relief, access to frozen funds, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and a framework for future nuclear talks.
The key elements are:
US concessions and economic relief: The US would ease sanctions, allow limited Iranian oil exports, and consider access to frozen Iranian assets under compliance-based conditions.
Nuclear commitments: Iran would pledge not to pursue nuclear weapons and enter talks on limiting enrichment and managing its enriched uranium stockpile.
60-day ceasefire framework: Both sides would maintain a 60-day truce, extendable by agreement, to enable continued negotiations toward a lasting settlement.
Strait of Hormuz: The strait would reopen immediately, with Iran ensuring free maritime passage and restoration of normal shipping activity.
On February 28, the United States and Israel launched a joint operation against Iran, targeting the leadership of the Islamic Republic, its military sites and nuclear infrastructure. The strikes killed Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, and marked the beginning of a war that destabilised the region and triggered a global energy crisis through the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Nearly five weeks after the conflict began, both countries reached an uneasy ceasefire and opened negotiations for a lasting agreement. Pakistan claimed a role as mediator, having hosted the first direct US-Iran talks since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
No deal was reached in Islamabad, however, with both sides accusing the other of shifting goalposts and violating the ceasefire. The truce has broadly held, but tensions have persisted over the US blockade of Iranian ports and the continued closure of the strait.
