In brief
Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi declared a deal to end fighting with the U.S. is “never been closer,” and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif echoed the optimism. Trump reposted the statement and warned Iranian media had no right to speculate on the agreement’s contents. U.S. officials outlined a “performance‑based” deal tied to sanctions relief, nuclear program dismantlement, and release of frozen assets. Both sides face internal pressures and uncertainty, but the odds of a signing are currently assessed at 80‑85%.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi told the press this morning that a settlement with the United States to end the ongoing conflict had reached an unprecedented stage of progress. The Pakistani government, which has been mediating between the parties, also confirmed that the final agreement has been reached and is now being worked on with both sides to finalize details.
President Donald Trump reposted Araghchi’s statement on his social media platform, urging that the media refrain from guessing the agreement’s content. Trump also cautioned that leaked details were “dishonorable” and warned about the lack of transparency in any negotiations.
A senior U.S. administration figure told reporters that the probability of a signing is estimated between 80 % and 85 %. The delay, however, is attributed to complex political fractures within the Iranian government and the time needed to address key points such as lifting the naval blockade, releasing partially frozen assets, and scaling sanctions relief.
The proposed terms, as reported by Iran’s Mehr news agency, include: a lifting of the U.S. naval blockade; an acknowledgment of damages costing over $300 billion; the release of half of Iran’s frozen assets; the suspension of Iranian oil sanctions; and a request for Iran to dismantle its nuclear program and halt funding for regional terrorist groups. Iran, on its part, wants a U.N. Security Council resolution to endorse the final agreement and broad relief from sanctions.
All parties emphasize a “performance-based” model. Tehran would be rewarded with financial and political benefits only after meeting U.S. obligations, while the U.S. would release funds once Iranian demands such as the ceasefire, nuclear dismantlement, and regional stability commitments were satisfied.
The deal’s key focus areas include the end of the Israeli conflict with Iran-backed Hezbollah, de-escalation of the Strait of Hormuz, and a broader regional peace framework. While the U.S. remains confident Israel and Gulf Cooperation Council nations will join, it has left room for self‑defence actions against any escalation.
While the peace process remains in the news media’s spotlight, the government’s public messaging attempts to downplay details provided by domestic Iranian outlets, claiming inaccuracies and a domestic focus. The official statement underlines that until specific conditions are met, no immediate financial benefit will be provided to Iran.
The situation continues to evolve as the U.S., Iran, and Pakistan negotiate, reflecting a complex dance of diplomacy, sanctions, and regional security concerns.
