Trump claims Iran accord to be signed Sunday, but Tehran insists on delay
Conflicting statements from Washington, Tehran and Islamabad fuel uncertainty over the timing of a landmark US-Iran memorandum, potentially just hours away.
Conflicting signals
US President Donald Trump declared on his Truth Social platform that the signing of a memorandum with Iran is set for Sunday, 14 June, and that the Strait of Hormuz would reopen immediately afterwards. His statement was quickly challenged by Iranian officials. Foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei told reporters that no signing was expected within 24 hours, though he added a pact in the coming days could not be ruled out. "We must wait and see regarding the exact timing of the memorandum's signing," Baghaei said, "and we must be cautious."
Pakistan's foreign minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, who has mediated the talks, insisted a remote signing ceremony via video link is scheduled for Sunday. Earlier, Iran's top diplomat Abbas Araghchi had confirmed the signing would be "at a distance," ending speculation of an in-person summit in Geneva. Yet Iran denied reports that Araghchi would travel to Pakistan this weekend for technical meetings.
The deal's content and modalities
The common text of the memorandum, hammered out during Islamabad-hosted negotiations, has not been made public. Trump's narrative centers on an immediate, toll-free reopening of Hormuz, a chokepoint for global oil. Tehran's reading of the draft appears to differ significantly, particularly on nuclear constraints and the sequencing of sanctions relief. The US administration hopes to present the accord as a diplomatic win at the upcoming G7 summit in Evian, where Trump is to dine with President Macron on Tuesday.
Domestic pressures and protests
In Tehran, opposition groups have staged protests against a deal with Washington. Meanwhile, the announcement that the funeral of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei will be held from 4 to 9 July has been interpreted as a signal that the succession of his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, is proceeding and that the leadership is ready to conclude the pact.
International outreach
Iran's deputy foreign minister Kazem Gharibabadi met with the Russian and Chinese ambassadors in Tehran to brief the country's key allies on the state of the talks. Switzerland could host high-level US-Iran meetings next week, with Pakistan's foreign minister travelling to Geneva to prepare the ground.
- Trump announces via Truth Social that the agreement will be signed the next day.
- Expected signing date according to Trump and Pakistan; Iran pushes back.
- Possible US-Iran high-level meetings in Switzerland next week.
- Funeral of former supreme leader Ali Khamenei begins in Tehran.
