The United States and Iran are on the verge of a landmark agreement aimed at ending more than three months of conflict, with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif saying an initial peace deal could be signed within the next 24 hours.
Pakistan, which brokered the ceasefire that halted hostilities in April and has continued to mediate between the two sides, is preparing for an electronic signing ceremony followed by technical-level negotiations next week, Sharif said on Saturday.
“We are closer to a peace deal than ever before,” Sharif wrote on X. “With finalisation likely expected in the next 24 hours, Pakistan is preparing for the electronic signing of the peace deal immediately after, followed by technical-level talks next week.”
He said the agreement could provide a foundation for lasting regional stability. The announcement follows indications from both Washington and Tehran that negotiations have entered their final stage.
The conflict began on February 28 when the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iranian targets. Iran retaliated by targeting U.S. military facilities in the Gulf, while Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon launched attacks against Israel, expanding the war across the region.
The fighting has killed thousands of people, primarily in Iran and Lebanon, disrupted regional trade routes, and pushed global energy prices higher.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that a memorandum of understanding (MoU) being negotiated with Washington is close to completion and represents the culmination of months of diplomatic efforts following what Tehran views as a military victory.
Speaking to Iranian state television, Araghchi said the agreement was designed to “consolidate the victory of the Iranian people” and had been negotiated in full coordination with Iran’s armed forces and national security institutions.
“This process has now reached its final stages, resulting in a 14-point memorandum of understanding,” Araghchi said.
He added that details of the document would remain confidential until final approval, noting that revisions could still be made until the last moment. According to Araghchi, the proposed MoU has been repeatedly reviewed by Iran’s Supreme National Security Council and other key decision-making bodies.
The foreign minister said the agreement would formally end hostilities across the region, including in Lebanon, where Israeli forces would withdraw from occupied areas. “The war will come to an end on all fronts, including in Lebanon,” Araghchi said.
“There will be a commitment not to initiate any new war or resort to threats or the use of force.” He also claimed the document includes language recognizing and respecting Iran’s sovereignty, describing it as an unprecedented step in U.S.-Iran relations since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. “I believe this would mark the first time in 47 years that the United States explicitly recognizes and respects the sovereignty of the Islamic Republic of Iran in a written document,” he said.
Araghchi said the memorandum would be signed electronically once finalized, after which negotiations would begin on a broader agreement covering Iran’s nuclear program and the lifting of U.S. sanctions. Under the proposed framework, those talks would take place over a 60-day period, with the possibility of an extension if both sides agree progress is being made.
The draft agreement includes provisions to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and lift the U.S. naval blockade on Iranian ports, key measures aimed at restoring stability to global energy markets.
