Trump claims Iran peace deal 'largely negotiated' amid Pakistan mediation

Donald Trump, the President of the United States, claimed on Saturday that a peace agreement with Iran had been "largely negotiated" following discussions held with Gulf countries and Israel, with Pakistan acting as a mediator.

In a post on his social media platform, Trump stated that the "final elements and details" of a "memorandum of understanding" were still being discussed and would be "announced soon." He also indicated that the Strait of Hormuz would be opened as part of the agreement.

"An agreement has been largely negotiated between the United States, Iran, and various other countries, depending on the finalization," Trump wrote in his post.

RESPONSE FROM IRAN

However, Iran's Fars News Agency, known for its proximity to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, reported that the Strait of Hormuz would remain under Iranian control, which is a red line for the US. In a post on Telegram, the agency stated, "The management of the strait, the determination of the route, passage time and method, and the issuance of permits will remain the monopoly and discretion of Iran."

The agency also stated that Trump's announcement of the agreement being nearly complete "does not align with reality."

Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif later congratulated Trump on his peace efforts and expressed hope that Pakistan would "very soon" host another round of talks between the US and Iran.

Sharif described the meetings held by the US President with the leaders of Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, the UAE, Jordan, and Pakistan as "very useful and productive," adding:

"Pakistan will continue to pursue peace efforts with utmost sincerity and we hope to host the next round of talks very soon."

Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff, Syed Asim Munir, stands out as one of the key figures in the negotiations. Munir has recently held meetings in Tehran with figures such as Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.

IRAN SUBMITTED REVISED PROPOSAL TO US

Trump's announcement came after a Pakistani source told Reuters that Iran and Pakistan had submitted a revised proposal to the US to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

A regional official with direct knowledge of the Pakistan-led mediation efforts told the Associated Press on Saturday that the potential agreement would include the formal declaration of the end of the war, two months of negotiations on Iran's nuclear program, the opening of the critical maritime trade route by Iran, and the lifting of the US blockade on Iranian ports.

Three senior Iranian officials told The New York Times that the agreement would halt conflicts in Iran and Lebanon, allow for the release of $25 billion in frozen Iranian assets abroad, and that a nuclear deal would be negotiated within 30 to 60 days.

Even before the announcement, there were signs of progress in the indirect talks between the US and Iran in recent days. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, during his visit to India, said that some "news" could come "later today," even as Trump continued to threaten Iran with strikes.

Trump stated in his post that he had held phone calls with the leaders of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, and Bahrain, as well as Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff Munir and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Trump also added, "I also spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu; this meeting also went very well."

"WE WILL ONLY GET EVERYTHING WE WANT"

The full details of the negotiations remain unclear. Trump said in his statement on Saturday that he had discussed the latest round of offers with American negotiators, including special representative Steve Witkoff and advisor Jared Kushner, as well as JD Vance.

The period leading up to the announcement remained tense, with Trump continuing his threats of attack. Speaking to CBS and Axios, Trump said he would only sign a deal where "we get everything we want," and stated that if a deal could not be reached, the US would launch renewed attacks on Iran.

According to a report published by Drop Site News on Friday night, Iran's latest offer to mediators included the temporary reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. However, Iran also demanded an end to the US blockade on Iranian ports, the release of billions of dollars in frozen Iranian assets, and the preparation of a compensation plan for damages incurred during the war. According to Drop Site's source, Iran's proposal also included the permanent end of the war before any agreement on Tehran's nuclear program was negotiated. It is unknown how many of these points are included in the memorandum Trump mentioned in his post.