Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced that the United States and Iran have agreed to a framework for a peace deal aimed at ending months of conflict in the Middle East, marking what he described as a major diplomatic breakthrough in ongoing negotiations.
According to Sharif, a final draft of the agreement has been completed and preparations are underway for an electronic signing expected within 24 hours. Technical-level talks are scheduled to follow next week to finalise implementation details.
The announcement comes amid mixed signals from Tehran and Washington. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said Iran considers itself “the winner of the war with the US,” while also acknowledging that revisions to the draft agreement remain possible. Despite tensions, he suggested the tentative deal reflected strengthened Iranian positioning in the conflict.
Shortly after his remarks, US forces intercepted multiple Iranian one-way attack drones heading toward the Strait of Hormuz, according to a source familiar with the situation. US Central Command confirmed the interceptions and stated that the strategic waterway remained open to international shipping.
Iranian media reported explosions near the Sirik port and Qeshm Island, which local accounts attributed to Iranian defensive fire aimed at unidentified vessels operating without clearance from the Revolutionary Guards’ naval forces.
At the centre of the proposed framework is a plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and lift US naval restrictions on Iranian ports. In exchange, the United States would release billions of dollars in frozen Iranian assets and ease sanctions on Iranian oil exports, according to multiple sources involved in the talks.
Negotiations over Iran’s nuclear programme are expected to follow within a 60-day period. US officials said the broader agreement aims to ultimately dismantle Iran’s nuclear capabilities, including the destruction of highly enriched uranium stockpiles under international inspection. Iranian officials, however, have indicated a preference for down-blending rather than removal of existing uranium reserves.
Disputes remain over key elements of the deal, including potential war reparations and restrictions on Iran’s missile programme, which US sources say are not included in the final text. Iranian officials have also asserted continued control over maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz alongside Oman.
A Western diplomat suggested the agreement could be signed in Geneva by senior representatives from both sides, while Iranian officials indicated it may be formalised remotely.
Israel has not participated in the negotiations and has signalled it will not accept the terms. Israeli officials have maintained that military operations against perceived threats will continue regardless of the outcome.
The announcement follows a volatile week marked by intensified regional clashes, including exchanges between Israeli and Iranian forces and strikes on US-linked targets. Oil prices fell and global markets rose following news of the potential agreement, reflecting cautious optimism among investors.
If finalised, the deal would represent one of the most significant diplomatic developments in recent years, though major differences remain before full implementation can be achieved.
