Washington: US President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that a deal with Iran is expected to be signed on Sunday, which will result in the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to global navigation.
According to Anadolu Agency, Trump made the announcement on his Truth Social platform, stating, "The Deal is scheduled to get signed tomorrow, and immediately after it is signed, the Hormuz Strait is OPEN TO ALL." This development follows a period of intense negotiations mediated by Pakistan, which played a crucial role in brokering a ceasefire in the US-Israeli conflict with Iran earlier this year.
Pakistan's Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, also indicated that the deal could be finalized within the next 24 hours. He mentioned that Pakistan is prepared for an electronic signing of the peace deal, with technical-level discussions set to follow next week.
Trump described the agreement as a barrier to Iran's nuclear ambitions, asserting that Tehran no longer seeks to acquire nuclear weapons through any means. He criticized the Iran policies of previous US administrations and emphasized that no financial transactions would occur with Tehran as part of the deal.
The US President also detailed plans to dismantle Iran's nuclear capabilities, stating that the US would eliminate nuclear materials in Iran with the aid of B-2 Bombers and their pilots. Trump expressed optimism for future cooperation with Iran and the broader Middle East, while also alluding to potential military alternatives if the process does not proceed smoothly.
US officials have confirmed that the signing will occur virtually due to logistical reasons. However, Iran has denied that the signing will take place on Sunday. Esmaeil Baghaei, a spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry, stated that while the signing might not occur on the announced date, it could happen in the coming days. The Iranian negotiating team currently has no plans to travel for the signing ceremony.
The announcement follows a conflict that began on February 28 over concerns about Iran's nuclear program. The conflict saw military actions from both the US and Iran, leading to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and impacting global oil and gas exports.
