Washington, United States. U.S. and Pakistani leaders said a long-sought framework agreement to end fighting between the United States and Iran was expected to be signed on Sunday, but Iran cast doubt on the timing and hardline protesters voiced opposition in Tehran.
Trump said the deal was scheduled for signing the day after his Saturday social media post, while Pakistan’s prime minister said technical-level talks would follow in the coming week.
Leaders outline expected signing
President Donald Trump said in a social media post on Saturday that the deal with Iran was scheduled to be signed the next day, which is his 80th birthday.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the two sides had agreed on a framework for a peace deal and that Islamabad was preparing for an electronic signing on Sunday, followed by technical-level talks in the coming week.
Iran signals uncertainty over timing
Iran did not confirm a Sunday signing. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei, speaking before Trump’s post, cautioned against commenting on the timing of the signing and was quoted by state media as saying, “It will not be tomorrow,” but could happen “in the coming days.”
Strait of Hormuz remains central issue
Trump wrote on Truth Social that after a framework deal is signed, the Strait of Hormuz, which he described as a vital artery for global oil supplies that Iran has blocked, would immediately be “open to all.”
The U.S. military is imposing a blockade on Iran and is seeking to loosen Iran’s chokehold on the strait, which was the conduit for 20% of the world’s oil shipments before the war.
Conflict continues despite diplomatic movement
Even as the United States and Iran appeared to be moving toward an agreement over the past two days, clashes continued.
Early on Saturday, U.S. forces shot down multiple Iranian one-way attack drones heading toward the strait, the U.S. military said.
Opposition inside Iran and regional developments
Videos on social media and Iranian news websites showed opponents of an agreement gathering in squares and in front of the Foreign Ministry in Tehran, appearing to blame Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi as they chanted, “Araqchi have some shame, let go of America!”
Reuters could not immediately verify the videos.
When the United States and Israel launched the war against Iran on February 28, Trump called on Iranians to rise up and take over state institutions.
While U.S. bombings have heavily degraded Iran’s military-industrial base and damaged its military, experts say the war has left hardline Revolutionary Guard dominance more firmly entrenched than before.
Israel, which says it is not a party to the U.S.-Iran deal, said on Saturday that it had struck more than 70 sites over a 24-hour period in Lebanon against Iranian ally Hezbollah.