WASHINGTON, United States — US President Donald Trump has announced that a long-awaited agreement between the United States and Iran aimed at ending months of conflict in the Middle East could be signed on Sunday, raising hopes of a breakthrough that may lead to the reopening of the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.
In a statement posted on his Truth Social platform on Saturday, Trump said the deal was scheduled for signing within 24 hours and would immediately pave the way for unrestricted access through the waterway, a key global route for oil and gas shipments.
“The Deal is scheduled to get signed tomorrow, and immediately after it is signed, the Hormuz Strait is OPEN TO ALL,” Trump said.
The announcement came as diplomatic efforts intensified among the United States, Iran, and regional mediators seeking to finalize an agreement following months of military confrontation and economic disruption.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, whose country has played a key mediation role, said the agreement was closer than ever before. In a statement on X, Sharif said the finalisation of the deal was expected within 24 hours and would be signed electronically, although he did not provide additional details.
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry also indicated that the signing was expected on Sunday, while noting that technical-level discussions would continue next week.
Despite the optimism, Iranian officials appeared more cautious. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said the exact date for signing had not yet been determined and suggested it might not occur on Sunday. However, he acknowledged that an agreement could be reached within days.
A major point of contention remains the future administration of the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has maintained a blockade of the strategic waterway since the outbreak of hostilities, requiring vessels to obtain permission before passage and imposing new oversight measures.
The US military’s Central Command said Saturday that Iranian forces had launched multiple one-way attack drones targeting commercial vessels transiting the strait. According to the command, all the drones were intercepted and destroyed by US forces.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has insisted that Tehran will retain authority over the waterway and described the Strait of Hormuz as one of Iran’s key strategic deterrents. The United States, however, has repeatedly maintained that unrestricted international access must be guaranteed.
Another unresolved issue concerns Iran’s nuclear programme, particularly stockpiles of highly enriched uranium believed to have survived previous military strikes.
Araghchi has argued that the material should be diluted within Iran, while Trump has maintained that the uranium must ultimately be removed and destroyed.
“When all is calm, we will go in and get the Nuclear Dust and downblend and destroy it, whether in Iran or the United States,” Trump said, adding that Washington still retained alternative options should diplomacy fail.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also indicated that any final agreement must include provisions addressing Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile.
