US and Pakistani leaders have signalled progress toward a long-anticipated framework agreement aimed at ending hostilities between Washington and Tehran, although Iranian officials have cast doubt on the timing and domestic opposition to the deal has surfaced in public protests.
US President Donald Trump said on social media that a signing of the agreement was scheduled for Sunday, coinciding with his 80th birthday. The proposed deal, he said, would include provisions to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route that has been heavily affected by the conflict.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif confirmed that both sides had agreed on a framework for a peace arrangement and said preparations were underway for an electronic signing, followed by technical-level negotiations in the coming days. Islamabad has acted as a key mediator in the talks alongside other regional actors.
However, Tehran stopped short of confirming any immediate signing. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei urged caution over the timeline, saying the agreement was not expected on Sunday but could be finalised “in the coming days,” according to state media reports.
Tensions remain high within Iran itself. Videos circulating on social media and local reports showed groups of hardline protesters gathering in Tehran, voicing anger at the potential agreement and directing criticism at Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. The footage could not be independently verified, but it reflected visible divisions over the direction of negotiations.
Despite diplomatic progress, military tensions have continued. US forces reported shooting down Iranian drones heading toward the Strait of Hormuz, while Israel carried out strikes on more than 70 targets in Lebanon in operations linked to Iranian-backed Hezbollah. Israel has stated it is not part of the US-Iran negotiations.
Under the draft framework, the Strait of Hormuz would be reopened to global shipping, while the US would gradually lift its naval blockade and ease sanctions in exchange for Iranian commitments. One US official said the arrangement would include phased steps, including the eventual dismantling of Iran’s nuclear programme and removal of enriched uranium stockpiles under international supervision.
Iranian officials have indicated that frozen assets and sanctions relief are central to their demands, alongside calls for greater control over maritime operations in the strait. Some Iranian media reports also suggested proposals for foreign military withdrawal from the region.
Negotiations over Iran’s nuclear programme are expected to follow the initial agreement phase, with a 60-day timetable discussed among mediators. US officials have said compliance would be required before broader economic relief is granted.
While diplomatic momentum has increased, uncertainty remains over whether the framework will be signed on schedule, as both political resistance inside Iran and ongoing regional military activity continue to complicate the path toward a final agreement.
