Islamabad MoU nears completion as US, Iran differ on signing timeline

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan said a framework agreement between the United States and Iran was close to completion, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif indicating on Saturday that the deal could be finalised within 24 hours, even as Washington and Tehran gave different timelines for its electronic signing.

In a post on X, the prime minister said the agreement was expected to be finalised in the next 24 hours and described it as closer than ever before, expressing hope that it would provide a strong basis for durable peace. US President Donald Trump later reposted Shehbaz Sharif’s message, while maintaining separately that the accord was due to be signed on Sunday.

Islamabad is preparing for an electronic signing of the proposed memorandum, to be followed by technical-level talks next week. Possible venues under discussion had included Islamabad and Geneva, although the Iranian side later said its negotiators would not travel to either location in the next day or two.

Conflicting timelines from Washington and Tehran

In a post on Truth Social, President Trump said the agreement was scheduled to be signed on Sunday and that the Strait of Hormuz would reopen once it was concluded. He also said no funds would be transferred under the arrangement and warned of consequences if the process failed.

"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. If it doesn’t, we have the ultimate alternative, hopefully never to be used again!" Trump wrote.

Iran, however, rejected the Sunday timeline while saying the deal was close. Foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said the exact timing of the Islamabad memorandum would not be Sunday, though he did not rule out its signing in the coming days. He said caution was necessary in commenting on the date because of hesitation on the other side and added that the exact time would have to be awaited.

Baghaei also said Iranian negotiators would not travel to Geneva or Islamabad in the next day or two for signing. Separately, Iranian parliament speaker Bagher Ghalibaf said any understanding between Tehran and Washington would need enforceable commitments, according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency.

Regional contacts and Strait of Hormuz situation

The Prime Minister’s Office said Shehbaz Sharif received a call on Saturday from Qatar’s Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, who paid tribute to the prime minister and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir for what the statement described as an instrumental role in guiding diplomatic efforts. According to the PMO, the prime minister thanked Qatar for its support for Pakistan’s peace efforts during the Gulf crisis and said a peace deal would be ready for signatures by the relevant parties very shortly.

The Foreign Office said Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan also welcomed the final phase of US-Iran negotiations. According to the statement, they expressed hope that the expected electronic signing ceremony would help advance lasting peace and stability in the region.

Even as negotiations moved forward, tensions persisted around the Strait of Hormuz. Reuters, citing a senior US official, reported that the United States would take part in de-mining the waterway once the accord was sealed. Reuters also reported that US forces shot down multiple Iranian one-way attack drones heading toward the strait, after which Centcom said the waterway remained open for transit.

Iranian news agencies reported explosions near Sirik port and Qeshm Island, with local officials attributing them to warning fire by Iranian forces at vessels attempting to pass without permission from the IRGC navy. A day earlier, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had said Iran would not impose tolls on Hormuz but would collect service fees, adding that the matter would be discussed.

Reuters, citing the UK Maritime Trade Operations Centre, further reported that a tanker was hit by an unknown projectile in its port bow off Oman’s coast. The incident took place on Friday, six nautical miles east of Oman. The crew was reported safe, there was no environmental impact, and the vessel was continuing to its next port of call.

Separately, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said the country’s 12-day war against Israel last year had shown that when Iran was at stake, the nation stood united.