Iran rules out Sunday signing of US memorandum

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei on Saturday ruled out the possibility of signing a memorandum of understanding with the United States on Sunday, stating that Tehran must remain cautious amid Washington's shifting positions during the Islamabad-mediated negotiations to end the war.

Tehran cautious on timeline

Baghaei told Tasnim News Agency that the Islamabad memorandum focuses on ending the war, while nuclear issues will not be discussed at this stage. "We will have to wait and see about the exact time of signing the memorandum; although it will not be tomorrow, the possibility of this happening in the coming days cannot be ruled out," he said. He noted that Iran must be "cautious," citing what he called Washington's "hesitation" in making comments about the process.

Islamabad pushes for swift deal

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said early Saturday that Iran and the US are "closer to a peace deal than ever before," with the deal expected to be finalized within the next 24 hours. "With finalization 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," Sharif said in a statement posted on X. The Pakistan-mediated negotiations have focused on ending hostilities, reopening the Strait of Hormuz to maritime traffic and reaching consensus on Iran's nuclear program.

Regional tensions persist

Iranian officials have repeatedly stated that a large portion of the text has already been agreed upon. They have accused Washington of slowing progress through shifting positions and contradictory statements. The region has remained on edge since late February, when the US and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran triggering retaliation against regional US assets and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz — one of the world's key energy chokepoints.