Pakistan PM Confirms Progress in US-Iran Peace Talks

Pakistan's Role in US-Iran Negotiations

On Friday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan made a significant announcement regarding the ongoing peace negotiations between the United States and Iran. He stated that a final draft of the agreement has been established, and Pakistan is actively collaborating with both nations to determine the subsequent steps.

Statements from Pakistan's Prime Minister

Sharif shared his remarks on social media shortly after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi indicated that a deal was closer than ever. In his post, Sharif countered what he termed a misinformation campaign aimed at derailing the agreement.

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He emphasized, "Despite the distractions, we can confirm that a final, agreed text of the peace deal has been reached, and Pakistan is now working closely with both parties to finalize the next steps. Peace has never been this close as it is now."

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Araghchi also called on the media to refrain from speculating about the agreement's details while discussions are still ongoing.

Details of the Proposed Agreement

A senior official from the US provided insights into the memorandum of understanding, indicating that it would involve substantial sanctions relief and the unfreezing of Iranian assets. In exchange, Iran would need to dismantle its nuclear program and surrender its nuclear materials, as reported by Al Jazeera. However, the official clarified that Iran would not receive any benefits immediately upon signing; the lifting of sanctions and the release of frozen assets would depend on Iran's compliance. Further technical discussions on various points would commence after the initial signing.

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Vice President JD Vance reiterated this point, confirming that Iran's frozen assets would not be released immediately upon the agreement's signing. Despite the positive signals from various parties, a senior US official cautioned that the deal is "not quite at the finish line yet, but we are very close," according to Al Jazeera.

Former President Trump shared Araghchi's statement on his Truth Social account and mentioned to Axios that he believed the deal could be finalized over the weekend. He also claimed that Iran had privately apologized for disseminating false information, although the specifics of that communication remain unclear.

Clarifications on the Agreement's Content

Confusion arose on Friday when Iran's state news agency IRNA released a report outlining what it claimed were seven key points of the agreement. This report suggested that no new concessions had been made regarding Iran's nuclear program or its control over the Strait of Hormuz, and that some Iranian assets would be unfrozen immediately. A US official firmly rejected this narrative, asserting that the ongoing negotiations require the complete dismantling of Iran's nuclear program, the destruction of nuclear materials, and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Trump also appeared to respond to the IRNA report.

Current Status of Negotiations

Esmaeil Baghaei, spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, stated that relevant institutions are convening and that discussions are in the "final stages of summarizing the text of the understanding." He did not provide any specifics regarding the timing or location of a potential signing.