Iran refuses to sign peace deal with US on Sunday, denying Trump's announcement

Trump's Sunday deadline

President Donald Trump insisted on Saturday that a memorandum of understanding to end the war with Iran would be signed Sunday, with the Strait of Hormuz reopened immediately afterward.

“The agreement will be signed tomorrow and, immediately after the signing, the Strait of Hormuz will be reopened to all.”

He also asserted that Iran no longer wants a nuclear bomb and warned of the "ultimate alternative" if the process stalls.

Tehran pushes back

Iran quickly contradicted Trump's timeline. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghai told state news agency IRNA that the signing would not happen today.

“We have to wait for the exact date of the signing. It will not be tomorrow. It will be in the coming days.”

The Fars news agency, close to Iranian hardliners, cited a source saying that Iran had not yet made a final decision on the memorandum. Opposition within Iran has hardened, with some arguing the deal would strip Tehran of leverage over the strategic strait.

Mediation efforts intensify

A Qatari delegation led by Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, an advisor to the foreign minister, landed in Tehran on Sunday to push the negotiations forward. Iranian agencies ISNA and Tasnim confirmed the visit, aimed at reviewing the latest diplomatic developments. Qatar and Pakistan have been mediating the talks. Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif posted on X that finalisation was expected within 24 hours.

“We are closer than ever to a peace agreement. Pakistan is preparing for the electronic signing immediately thereafter.”

Details of the proposed pact

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the memorandum would end the war, reopen the Strait of Hormuz, lift the US naval blockade, gradually lift sanctions, and release frozen Iranian funds. The nuclear programme would be addressed in a 60-day negotiation period after the signing, which could be extended with mutual consent. The signing itself is planned to be virtual, carried out electronically.

Street protests and wider reaction

Hundreds of protesters gathered in Tehran hours after the peace talks were announced, denouncing the negotiations and accusing Iranian leaders of caving to Washington. The demonstrations coincided with the funeral arrangements for former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Separately, Trump called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to say it was "time to end this war," according to Axios.

Timeline of the accord