US-Iran deal near but contested: Pakistan confirms final text, 14-point leak and drone attacks raise tensions
A final draft of a US-Iran peace deal is confirmed by Pakistan, but conflicting 14-point leaks and fresh drone attacks in the Strait of Hormuz underline how fragile the accord remains.
A deal within reach?
Pakistan's prime minister Shehbaz Sharif announced on Friday that a final, unanimously agreed text of a peace agreement between the United States and Iran has been reached. Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghtschi said the memorandum was nearer than ever, and a digital signing could happen in the coming days, possibly this weekend in Europe. US president Donald Trump confirmed progress, telling reporters a signing was likely "perhaps in Europe", though a senior US official cautioned that not all Iranian decision-makers were on board.
We can confirm that a final, unanimously agreed text of the peace agreement has been reached.
A week of escalation and reversal
The apparent breakthrough caps a week of sharp reversals. On Monday Trump promised a deal within days. Tuesday a US Apache helicopter crashed off Oman after an encounter with an Iranian drone; Washington responded with airstrikes on twenty targets inside Iran, and Tehran retaliated with strikes in Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan. Defence secretary Pete Hegseth said the US was prepared to "negotiate with bombs". By Thursday Trump called off a massive planned attack, citing acceptance of a deal by Iran's supreme leadership.
- Trump predicts a deal with Iran within days.
- US Apache helicopter crashes off Oman; US airstrikes on 20 Iranian targets; Iran retaliates in Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan.
- Trump calls off planned massive attack on Iran, says deal accepted by top Iranian leadership.
- Iranian state media leak 14-point draft; Pakistan confirms final agreed text; US military downs Iranian drones over Strait of Hormuz.
Contentious terms and a leaked draft
Iranian state media published a 14-point draft that drew immediate rejection from Trump. The draft included an immediate cessation of hostilities on all fronts including Lebanon, a lifting of the US naval blockade within 30 days, reopening of the Strait of Hormuz on Iranian terms, suspension of oil sanctions, withdrawal of US forces, and reconstruction aid of at least $300 billion. It also proposed releasing $24 billion in frozen Iranian funds, half before the start of 60-day final negotiations. Trump dismissed the leak as fake, and western, Pakistani and Iranian insiders told Reuters the terms, as described, tilt heavily towards Tehran while omitting key US demands. An unresolved issue remains the wording on ending Israel's offensive against Hezbollah in Lebanon.
The conditions that Iran leaked to the 'Fake News' have nothing to do with the agreed terms.
Nuclear programme and the 60-day clock
Both sides confirmed that the hardest question, Iran's nuclear programme, will be deferred to a 60-day negotiation phase after the accord is signed. Araghtschi said Iran's position is that its stock of enriched uranium must be diluted inside the country. The leaked 14-point text reaffirmed Iran's Non-Proliferation Treaty commitment not to build nuclear weapons but struck Iran's missile programme and support for allied groups from the agenda entirely.
As soon as the final phases of our negotiations are concluded, this agreement will be signed and announced.
Attacks in the Strait
Even as the deal promises to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 30 days, US Central Command reported early Friday that Iranian drones had targeted commercial ships transiting the waterway. The command said all drones were shot down and shipping was unimpeded. Trump separately accused Iran of a drone attack on Indian vessels leaving the strait, which India called unacceptable.
