DUBAI/WASHINGTON: The United States and Iran have reached a deal to end their war and will hold an official signing ceremony on Friday in Switzerland, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on social media early on Monday.
“The Deal with the Islamic Republic of Iran is now complete,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform shortly after PM Sharif made his announcement.
The agreement was struck despite an Israeli strike on Lebanon on Sunday that drew criticism from both Iran and US President Donald Trump.
The precise terms of the deal were not immediately known. PM Sharif said the pact called for “the immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon”.
Multiple sources previously told Reuters that the draft deal would reopen the Strait of Hormuz, end the US blockade of Iranian ports and extend a ceasefire, while leaving Iran’s nuclear programme to be addressed during a 60-day period of additional talks.
In his social media post, Trump said the strait would be open “toll free” and that the US naval blockade would also end. “Ships of the World, start your engines. Let the oil flow!” Trump wrote.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in his social media post said, “We would like to thank the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran for their commitment to finding a diplomatic solution to the conflict. We would also like to extend our sincere appreciation to our brothers in this mediation effort, the great leadership of State of Qatar, for their support in reaching this agreement. I would also especially thank the visionary leadership of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Republic of Turkiye for their immense contributions in this regard.”
The prime minister said, “With the agreement now in place, mediators will facilitate a series of meetings this week. These pre-implementation discussions will lay the foundation for the technical talks and the official signing ceremony.”
Earlier on Sunday, Iranian negotiator Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said Israel’s latest attack on the southern suburbs of Beirut, which Israel said targeted Iranian-backed Hezbollah militants, showed the United States lacks “the will and ability to fulfill your commitments” in a post on X.
Iran’s foreign ministry said it held the United States responsible for the attack. Iran warned of a “strong response”, and its top joint military command said the “finger (is) on the trigger” ready to fire at the “enemy’s heart”.
In a post on his Truth Social platform on Sunday, Trump said: “This morning’s attack on Beirut should not have happened, particularly on a special day when we are so close to a Peace Deal with Iran.”
Israel has said it was not party to the planned US-Iran deal. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has differed with Trump over American demands that Israel curb its military action in Lebanon to allow the United States to reach a deal with Iran.
The conflict between Israel and Iran-aligned Hezbollah in Lebanon was reignited by the start of the US-Israeli war against Iran in February.
A senior Iranian official earlier told Reuters that, under the terms of the draft deal, the United States would agree to release $25 billion of frozen Iranian assets, while Iran would agree not to produce or acquire nuclear weapons. The official said Iran agreed to maintain the nuclear status quo, including no uranium enrichment or expanding nuclear facilities, until a final deal is reached.
Earlier on Sunday, President Trump criticised an Israeli strike on Lebanon.
Iranian negotiator Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf had earlier said Israel’s attack on the southern suburbs of Beirut, which Israel said targeted Iranian-backed Hezbollah militants, showed the US lacked the will or ability to fulfil its commitments. “This morning’s attack on Beirut should not have happened, particularly on a special day when we are so close to a Peace Deal with Iran,” Trump had said in a post on his Truth Social platform.
Thousands of people have been killed in the war, mostly in Iran and Lebanon. Iran has struck Israel and Gulf states hosting US bases, and has effectively blockaded the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery for global oil supplies, pushing up global energy prices. The US has blocked Iranian ports.
Trump fumed at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the attack on Beirut, saying, “it is so bad—I couldn’t believe it. An hour before we are supposed to sign the deal.”
Using a string of expletives, Trump told Axios he raged at Netanyahu after Israel struck Beirut’s southern suburbs. “Why did Bibi (Netanyahu) have to do a fucking attack?” Trump told Axios. “I was so pissed off. I let him know. He has no fucking judgement. I let him know that.”
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres criticised Israel’s strikes on Beirut that threatened US plans for Washington and Tehran to sign a framework peace deal later in the day. “The strikes took place despite the ceasefire and at a time when the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran are expected to reach an agreement that will pave the way to a peaceful resolution of this conflict,” he said in a statement. “I urge all parties to show maximum restraint at this crucial moment.”
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said the country’s highest security authority supports the “path of dialogue”, after hardliners criticised Tehran’s negotiating team in talks with the United States. ”The Supreme National Security Council has concluded that the path of dialogue should be pursued,” Pezeshkian said in a meeting with media executives, according to the presidency’s website. He added that the council was in charge of “decisions regarding war and negotiations”.
Barack Obama said it was unrealistic to expect that any deal between US President Donald Trump and Tehran would mark a “significant improvement” over his own nuclear pact 11 years ago.
In interview excerpts released Sunday on ABC News talk show “This Week,” the former president also suggested it was better to negotiate a deal that falls short of all of Washington’s requirements in order to avoid an outright war.
“It is doubtful that any agreement that arises is going to be significantly different or a significant improvement from the deal that we had in the first place,” Obama said, referring to 2015’s landmark pact that Trump abandoned.
Obama said his own deal “had worked for a long stretch of time before... the United States pulled out of it.”
A Qatari delegation arrived in Tehran on Sunday, Iranian media and a diplomat said, as part of the mediation process to end the war between Iran and the United States.
Iran’s ISNA news agency reported an adviser to Qatar’s foreign minister had been dispatched to the Islamic republic. Another Iranian news agency Tasnim said the purpose of the visit was to “go over the latest developments regarding the diplomatic process”.
A diplomat with knowledge of the situation told AFP on Sunday that “Qatari negotiators flew to Tehran this morning”.
Speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive talks, the diplomat said the delegation travelled “to help facilitate the finalisation of the agreement”.
A cyberattack disrupted services at four major Iranian banks, though no customer data was compromised, the country’s banking coordination council said on Sunday, according to state media.
Russian President Vladimir Putin called US counterpart Donald Trump on Sunday, Trump’s 80th birthday, and discussed the wars in Ukraine and Iran and an upcoming visit of Washington’s envoys to Russia, the Kremlin said.
“The conversation focused on the situation surrounding the memorandum of understanding being drafted between the United States and Iran.
Donald Trump said an agreement is close,” Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters. Ushakov also said that “it has been agreed that US presidential special representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who are currently closely involved in Iranian affairs, will return to Russia soon”.
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar held a telephone conversation with Foreign Minister of the Republic of Turkiye Hakan Fidan.
They exchanged views on the evolving regional situation and welcomed the encouraging progress towards an understanding between the United States and Iran.
They expressed hope that these positive developments would pave the way for lasting peace and stability in the region, the Foreign Office spokesperson said in a press release on Sunday. Both agreed to remain in close contact on further developments.
Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar and Foreign Minister of the Arab Republic of Egypt Dr Badr Abdelatty expressed the hope that the recent positive developments would contribute to lasting peace, security and stability across the region.
The two leaders discussed the latest regional developments, including progress towards an understanding between the United States and Iran, the Foreign Office spokesperson said in a press release on Sunday. Both sides agreed to maintain close contact.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has welcomed the conclusion of the peace deal between the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran.
“I warmly welcome the conclusion of Peace Deal between the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran, an important first step towards reducing tensions and advancing peace through dialogue. This positive development reflects the statesmanship and commitment of all parties involved.
“I commend Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif for his leadership and vision in facilitating this process, and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir for his steadfast support for regional stability.
“I also acknowledge Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the dedicated diplomatic teams from all participating countries whose professionalism, perseverance, and quiet efforts behind the scenes helped make this achievement possible.”
Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi confirmed to Iranian state TV that an immediate and permanent end to the war and military operations on various fronts, including Lebanon, will take place starting tonight.
He said negotiations for a final deal will be held during a 60-day period, adding that Tehran would take its own measures in case of “breaches from the other side”. He said mediators will still be present in the upcoming negotiations. He said Iran’s military power and threats helped in finalising the text.
US Vice President JD Vance said Sunday he planned to attend the signing of an Iran peace deal in Switzerland in a few days, but that President Donald Trump might go.
“I certainly plan to be there, but it´s possible the president himself could be there,” Vance told Fox News when asked if he´d be at the ceremony.
