The latest
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced Friday that negotiators have finalized the text of a memorandum of understanding between Iran and the United States, marking what could be the most significant breakthrough yet in months of talks.
The announcement came hours after Trump accused Iranian media of publishing inaccurate details about the emerging agreement. Tehran later signaled a more conciliatory tone, raising expectations that a deal could be nearing completion.
Sharif said Pakistan, which has played a key mediation role, is now working with all parties to complete the remaining procedural steps.
Details
• Sharif said Pakistan is fully aware of what he described as efforts to derail the peace process and confirmed that a final agreed text has been reached.
• He added that Pakistan is coordinating closely with the parties involved to finalize the next phase, saying peace “has never been this close.”
• Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the memorandum of understanding is closer than ever to completion and urged media outlets to avoid speculation about its contents until it is formally concluded.
• Trump later reposted Araghchi’s statement on Truth Social. According to Axios, Trump has demanded an official Iranian clarification regarding reports in Iranian state media that he said were inaccurate.
• A senior U.S. administration official said the agreement includes the removal of Iran’s nuclear materials and the dismantling of its nuclear program.
• The official said no frozen Iranian assets would be released until Tehran fulfills its obligations. The deal would also guarantee freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and require Iran to halt support for militant groups.
• Vice President JD Vance said Iran would receive no immediate financial benefits from signing the agreement and would only gain economic relief after complying with its commitments.
• Vance argued the deal has the potential to reshape the region and create a foundation for lasting peace.
• Senator Lindsey Graham strongly criticized descriptions of the agreement circulating in Iranian media, warning that any large-scale reconstruction fund for Iran would be unacceptable without major changes in the regime’s behavior.
What to watch
Attention is now focused on whether Washington and Tehran will issue coordinated statements confirming the agreement. Questions also remain about the economic provisions, including the timing of sanctions relief and access to frozen funds, which could become early tests of the deal’s durability.
