The prime minister of Pakistan says there is a “final, agreed-upon text” of a peace deal between the U.S. and Iran after intense mediation efforts by Islamabad.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, writing on social media, chastised parties who spread misinformation about the pact to try to sabotage the effort.
“Setting aside the noise, we can confirm that a final, agreed upon text of the peace deal has been reached and Pakistan is now working closely with both sides to finalize the next steps. Peace has never been this close as it is now,” he said on X.
Pakistani mediators have worked for months to secure peace between the U.S. and Iran, so his optimism is notable alongside positive signals from the warring nations.
President Trump on Thursday called off planned strikes against Iran, citing a pending peace deal that could be signed over the weekend in Europe.
He said the deal would lift the U.S. blockade on Iranian ports, reopen the Strait of Hormuz and set the table for stopping Iran’s nuclear program.
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On Friday, a top Iranian negotiator signaled a deal could be at hand.
“The Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding has never been closer. Pending its finalization, the media should refrain from entering speculation about its content,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said. “In line with our responsible and transparent approach, all details will be shared with the public in due course.”
Negotiators have been close to a deal before, only to see their plan fall apart due to shifting demands or mixed signals from Tehran’s fractured leadership.
The U.S. and Israel launched a military operation against Iran on Feb. 28 to prevent it from gaining nukes and to curtail its terror activities in the Middle East.
Early strikes killed Iran’s top leaders, and Tehran retaliated by striking U.S. allies in the Gulf region and clamping down on maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, causing global energy shocks.
The countries have been under a so-called ceasefire since April, but all sides have exchanged fire during a thorny peace process mediated by Qatar, Pakistan and other nations.
Vice President J.D. Vance on Friday joined the chorus of leaders saying people should not fall for “fake information” about the deal.
“The Iranians are not receiving any cash, and no funds are being released for simply signing a deal or attending a meeting,” he said on social media. “The deal is structured to ensure that the U.S. and its allies’ concerns are prioritized, and that if the Islamic Republic of Iran meets its obligations, then economic benefits will flow to them and to the entire region.”
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