Trump, Pak Say Iran Deal Could Be Signed Today; Tehran Signals More Time Needed

Tehran/Washington: Key mediator Pakistan on Saturday said a deal to end the Iran war was closer than ever, and U.S. President Donald Trump asserted it would be “signed tomorrow,” while Iran made some of its most optimistic statements yet, but indicated a bit more time was needed.

Trump said the Strait of Hormuz would open immediately after the signing. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said a deal was expected to be finalised within 24 hours. Each side was expected to sign electronically. Pakistan’s foreign ministry said the signing ceremony was scheduled for Sunday but did not provide details.

Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei, in statements carried by state media, said the signing “will not happen tomorrow,” but “the likelihood of finalising the memorandum of understanding in the coming days is high.” A tenuous ceasefire has been in place since April 7. Trump has asserted multiple times in recent weeks that the countries were on the cusp of a deal.

Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson said the memorandum of understanding under discussion was focused on ending the war and “at this stage, it has been decided that there will be no discussion of the nuclear issue.” Iran’s nuclear program and highly enriched uranium have long been at the centre of tensions with the U.S. and Israel, and an international source of concern.

Iran has long expressed wariness in negotiations, pointing out that previous talks with the U.S. last year and early this year ended with attacks by the U.S. and Israel. Trump was expected to discuss demining the Strait of Hormuz during the Group of Seven summit that starts Monday. G7 members Britain and France have expressed interest in assisting with demining once the conflict is paused.

Iran’s state-run television said funeral ceremonies for former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, killed in the war’s opening attack, will take place in July.

The funeral, burial and farewell events for Khamenei will occur between July 4 and 9 during Muharram, a traditional period of mourning in the Shiite Muslim calendar. Khamenei is succeeded by his son, Mojtaba, who is considered less compromising and has not been seen publicly since the war began.

Funeral ceremonies are expected to begin in Tehran and move to Qom, a stronghold of many senior Shiite clerics, then to Mashhad, Khamenei’s birthplace. He’ll be buried there at the Imam Reza Shrine, considered the holiest place among Shiite devotees.