US President Donald Trump said Israel and Hezbollah should immediately halt attacks on each other, adding that strikes on Beirut should not have taken place on a day when a peace deal is close, according to his statement.

Trump said Israel has the right to defend itself in the face of any threat, but added that the strike it was responding to was very minor, with no deaths or injuries reported.

He said the parties are close to an agreement that would bring peace to the region, including Lebanon, and said there should be no further Israeli attacks on Lebanon, nor any attacks on Israel by Hezbollah or other parties.

“This could be the beginning of a long and beautiful peace,” he said, urging all sides not to sabotage the process.

Earlier, Israel said its military attacked Hezbollah targets in Beirut’s southern suburbs on Sunday after the Iran-aligned armed group fired into Israeli territory, and the Lebanese state news agency said two people were killed.

The Israeli military said earlier that Hezbollah had launched three projectiles towards communities ​in northern Israel, calling it a blatant ceasefire violation.

“The IDF has now attacked terrorist targets of the Hezbollah terrorist ​organisation in the Dahiyeh neighbourhood of Beirut, in response to Hezbollah’s firing into Israeli territory,” a joint ⁠statement by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz said.

Mohammad Jafar Asadi, deputy commander of Iran’s Khatam Al-Anbiya Central Command, said Israel’s actions in Beirut would not go unpunished and that the Israeli army’s attack on the Lebanese capital would “definitely be responded to.”

“There is no doubt that Israel will be avenged for these crimes,” Asadi said, referring to the strike on Beirut’s Dahiya district.

Asadi said the attack came at a time when Iran and the United States were close to signing a draft agreement.

Bagher Qalibaf, speaker of Iran’s parliament and a key member of the negotiating team, also strongly condemned the Israeli strike on Lebanon.

“The Zionist incursion into Dahiyeh has once again proven that America is either not firm in fulfilling its promises or does not have the ability to do so,” Qalibaf said.

“You cannot make concessions by giving us a green signal. The game of good and bad soldiers is now outdated. If you are not capable of fulfilling your promises, then negotiations to follow this path are not possible,” he added.

Mohammad Jafar Asadi, deputy commander of Iran’s Khatam Al-Anbiya Central Command, said Israel’s actions in Beirut would not go unpunished and that the Israeli army’s attack on the Lebanese capital would “definitely be responded to.”

“There is no doubt that Israel will be avenged for these crimes,” Asadi said, referring to the strike on Beirut’s Dahiya district.

Asadi said the attack came at a time when Iran and the United States were close to signing a draft agreement.

Bagher Qalibaf, speaker of Iran’s parliament and a key member of the negotiating team, also strongly condemned the Israeli strike on Lebanon.

“The Zionist incursion into Dahiyeh has once again proven that America is either not firm in fulfilling its promises or does not have the ability to do so,” Qalibaf said.

“You cannot make concessions by giving us a green signal. The game of good and bad soldiers is now outdated. If you are not capable of fulfilling your promises, then negotiations to follow this path are not possible,” he added.

Earlier, Israel said its military attacked Hezbollah targets in Beirut’s southern suburbs on Sunday after the Iran-aligned armed group fired into Israeli territory, and the Lebanese state news agency said two people were killed.

The Israeli military said earlier that Hezbollah had launched three projectiles towards communities ​in northern Israel, calling it a blatant ceasefire violation.

“The IDF has now attacked terrorist targets of the Hezbollah terrorist ​organisation in the Dahiyeh neighbourhood of Beirut, in response to Hezbollah’s firing into Israeli territory,” a joint ⁠statement by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz said.

A senior Iranian official told Reuters a final draft of the memorandum of understanding with the US covered a ​range of issues, from Tehran’s nuclear work to reopening the ‌Strait of Hormuz and US waivers on oil sanctions, with a final deal to be discussed in the 60 days following agreement by the two sides.

The Iranian official said the ​draft memorandum included the following:

Strait of Hormuz:

Iran immediately reopens the ​Strait of Hormuz to all commercial vessels, while the US ⁠lifts its naval blockade on Iranian ports. The lifting of the US blockade would ​begin immediately after the memorandum is signed and be completed within 30 days.

Financial:

​The US agrees not to impose any new sanctions on Iran until a final deal is reached.

Following a final agreement, all US and UN sanctions on Iran would ​be lifted according to an agreed timetable.

The US will waive oil sanctions ​on Iran for a specified period, allowing Tehran to sell oil and receive revenue.

The ‌US ⁠agrees to release $25 billion of Iran’s frozen assets, including via direct cash transfers, cooperation among regional countries, and financial credit lines.

Washington, in coordination with its regional allies, would prepare a reconstruction and development plan for Iran, to ​be negotiated and agreed ​with Tehran within ⁠60 days.

Nuclear:

Tehran agrees that it will neither produce nor acquire nuclear weapons.

Pending a final agreement, Iran would maintain ​the current status of its nuclear programme, refraining from further ​uranium enrichment ⁠and expansion of nuclear facilities.

The United States agrees to allow Iran to dilute its stockpile of highly enriched uranium on Iranian soil under a future comprehensive ⁠agreement.

Iran’s ​nuclear programme, uranium enrichment activities and mechanisms ​for handling its stockpile of highly enriched uranium would be negotiated within 60 days of the memorandum ​and addressed in a final agreement.

A senior Iranian official has said that the probability of finalising a memorandum of understanding with the US in the coming days is high, while stressing that no foreign travel is planned in the immediate term.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei, speaking during a visit to Hamedan, said there are currently no plans for Iranian negotiators to travel to Geneva or elsewhere within the next day or two, despite media reports suggesting possible trips to conclude talks.

Commenting on remarks by Iran’s foreign minister that the two sides had “never been this close” to an understanding, Baghaei said the likelihood of reaching a deal in the coming days remained high.

However, he cautioned that the exact timing of any signing remains uncertain, adding that speculation about imminent travel should not be taken as confirmation of final arrangements.

Media reports had suggested that an Iranian delegation could travel to Geneva or Islamabad to finalise the “Islamabad memorandum of understanding,” but Baghaei denied any such immediate plans.

Iran’s final decision on a possible memorandum of understanding with the United States to end the war remains “under consideration,” a source familiar with the matter said on Sunday.

The source told Iran’s Fars News Agency that Tehran has not yet announced its final position on the proposed agreement, adding that “political, legal, and technical” aspects are still being reviewed.

According to Fars, discussions on the draft framework are continuing at both expert and decision-making levels.

The comments come amid mixed signals over the timing of a potential deal.

US President Donald Trump said on his Truth Social platform on Saturday that an agreement with Iran was scheduled to be signed on Sunday.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, whose government has been involved in facilitating contacts between Washington and Tehran, also indicated that the deal could be finalised within 24 hours.

However, Iranian officials have said the agreement will not be signed on Sunday, suggesting instead that it could be concluded in the coming days.

The Pakistan-mediated diplomatic process has focused on ending hostilities between the US and Iran, reopening the Strait of Hormuz to maritime traffic, and reaching an understanding on Iran’s nuclear programme.

Iranian officials have previously said that much of the proposed text has already been agreed, while also accusing Washington of slowing progress through shifting positions and inconsistent statements.

A Qatari delegation comprising senior officials flew to Tehran on Sunday as part of efforts to finalise an agreement to end the US-Iran war, sources said on Sunday.

US and Pakistani leaders forecast a signing today of a framework agreement to end the more than three-month-long war, but Tehran cast doubt over the timing as hardline protesters in Iran voiced opposition.

The Qatari visit came as diplomatic efforts intensified to finalise the framework agreement aimed at ending the US–Iran conflict.

The visit comes amid mixed signals over the timing and status of the proposed deal, which US and Pakistani leaders had suggested could be signed on Sunday.

However, Iranian officials have not confirmed any immediate signing, and uncertainty persists in Tehran.

Iran’s ISNA news agency reported that an adviser to Qatar’s foreign minister had been dispatched to Iran, while Tasnim said the visit was aimed at reviewing “the latest developments in the diplomatic process.”

Separately, Iran’s Fars news agency, citing an informed source, said Tehran has not yet taken a final decision on the framework agreement.

It added that political, legal and technical assessments are still underway at expert and decision-making levels.

The developments come as hardline opposition voices in Iran have also expressed resistance to the emerging understanding, adding further uncertainty to the timeline of any potential deal.

Despite earlier signals of progress, the status of the agreement remains fluid, with negotiations continuing through intermediaries.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar held talks over telephone with the foreign ministers of Turkiye and Egypt to discuss the regional situation, especially a possible deal between the US and Iran to end the conflict.

Talking to Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan of Turkiye on Saturday night, the two leaders exchanged views on the evolving regional situation and welcomed the encouraging progress towards an understanding between the US and Iran.

They expressed hope that these positive developments would pave the way for lasting peace and stability in the region, a Foreign Office spokesperson said in a statement on Sunday.

Both leaders agreed to remain in close contact on further developments.

Meanwhile, Ishaq Dar and Egypt’s Foreign Minister Dr Badr Abdelatty expressed hope that the recent positive developments in the region would contribute to lasting peace, security, and stability across the Middle East.

During their conversation on Saturday night, the two leaders discussed the latest regional developments, including progress towards an understanding between the US and Iran, the Foreign Office spokesperson said in a press release on Sunday.

Both sides agreed to maintain close contact.

US and Pakistani leaders forecast a Sunday signing of a long-elusive framework agreement ​to end fighting between the United States and Iran, but Tehran cast doubt over the timing, and protesters in Iran voiced opposition.

US President Donald Trump posted on social media ‌on Saturday that the deal with Iran was scheduled to be signed the next day, his 80th birthday.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the two sides had agreed on a framework for a peace deal and that Islamabad was preparing for an electronic signing on Sunday, to be followed by technical-level talks in the coming week.

But Iran did not confirm a Sunday signing. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei, speaking before Trump’s post, had cautioned against commenting on ​the timing of the signing but was quoted by state media as saying, “It will not be tomorrow,” but could happen “in the coming days.”

Trump wrote on Truth Social that after a framework ​deal is signed, the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery for global oil supplies that Iran has blocked, would immediately be “open to all.”

Iranian hardliners remain visible

While US bombings have heavily degraded Iran’s military-industrial base and damaged its military, experts say the war has left hardline Revolutionary Guard dominance more firmly entrenched than before.

Videos on social media and Iranian ​news websites showed opponents of an agreement gathering in squares and in front of the Foreign Ministry in Tehran, appearing to blame Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi as they chanted, “Araqchi have some shame, let ​go of America!”

Reuters could not immediately verify the videos.

When the US and Israel launched the war against Iran on February 28, Trump called on Iranians to rise up and take over state institutions.

Even as the US and Iran appeared to be moving toward an agreement over the past two days, clashes have continued, as the US military imposes a blockade on Iran and seeks to loosen Iran’s chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz, which was the conduit for ​20% of the world’s oil shipments before the war.

Early on Saturday, US forces shot down multiple Iranian one-way attack drones heading toward the strait, the US military said.

Israel, which says it is not ​a party to the US-Iran deal, said on Saturday that it had struck more than 70 sites over a 24-hour period in Lebanon against the anti-Israel Hezbollah group.

Radical Israeli regime leader Benjamin Netanyahu has clashed with Trump over US demands that Israel ⁠curb military action in Lebanon to allow Washington to reach a deal with Tehran.

On Friday, Araqchi said that while changes in the deal were still possible, the tentative agreement showed his country had emerged stronger from the conflict.

Opening Strait a priority

At pro-government rallies held across Iran on Saturday night, residents and news agencies reported that hardliners opposed to the framework agreement loudly voiced their dissatisfaction.

A resident in the northeastern city of Mashhad told Reuters that some protesters chanted: “Death to the compromiser,” in an apparent reference to Araqchi. “Compromiser, resign, resign.”

The proposed memorandum of understanding calls for reopening the strait and ​lifting the US naval blockade, sources on all ​sides of the talks said.

Negotiations over Iran’s ⁠nuclear programme — a key rationale Trump has given for the war — would take place afterwards.

“Iran is going to open up the Strait of Hormuz, that’s a requirement. It could be open with no tolls. As they do that, we will lift our blockade,” a US official told reporters.

“It’s going to ​happen in conjunction, and part of the next step, the phase after that, is going to be the demining of the straits,” the official ​said, indicating countries in the ⁠Group of Seven major powers could have a role in this.

Trump discussed the efforts to end the Iran conflict in a call with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Downing Street said on Saturday.

Draft terms described to Reuters by multiple sources indicate the US would begin releasing billions of dollars in frozen Iranian assets and waive sanctions on its oil exports, in return for Iran opening the strait.

Iran’s Fars news agency quoted Baghaei ⁠as saying ​the release of Iran’s frozen assets was an integral part of the agreement and also that Iran would have to ​charge for services in the Strait of Hormuz.

He said foreign military bases in the region must end, the agency reported, without providing details.

Iran’s nuclear programme would be addressed during a 60-day period of talks.

A US official said the agreement would ultimately ​lead to the dismantling of Iran’s nuclear programme, with its stockpile of highly enriched uranium to be destroyed and removed.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif received a telephone call from Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani on Saturday.

PM Shehbaz expressed deep appreciation for Qatar’s steadfast support for Pakistan’s peace efforts throughout the Gulf crisis, saying a peace deal was ready for signatures by the relevant parties “very shortly.”

The Qatari prime minister praised Pakistan’s diplomatic role and paid tribute to both PM Shehbaz and Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir for their instrumental contributions.

He said Qatar was proud to support Pakistan’s endeavours and hoped the agreement would bring lasting peace to the region.

PM Shehbaz conveyed greetings to Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and reiterated his invitation for an official visit to Pakistan.

Both leaders agreed to remain in close contact in the coming days.

US President Donald Trump said a long-awaited deal to end the war in the Middle East is scheduled to be signed on Sunday, paving the way for the opening of the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

“The Deal is scheduled to get signed tomorrow, and immediately after it is signed, the Hormuz Strait is OPEN TO ALL,” Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform on Saturday.

Trump’s statement, however, ran counter to Iran’s foreign ministry, which indicated earlier in the day that the deal would not be signed on Sunday, according to state media reports.

In his post, Trump also indicated the United States would take possession of and destroy Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium.

“At the appropriate time, when all is calm, we will go in and get the Nuclear Dust, buried deep under the powerful sunken granite mountains, thanks to our beautiful B-2 Bombers and their brilliant pilots, and downblend and destroy it, whether in Iran, or the United States,” Trump said. “We look forward to working with Iran, and the entire Middle East, long into the future.”

But Trump’s post also contained a warning to the Islamic Republic to fully implement the plan or face serious consequences.

“Hopefully, this process will all work out quickly, easily, and smoothly,” the US president wrote. “If it doesn’t, we have the ultimate alternative, hopefully never to be used again!”

Throughout the negotiations, Iran has insisted on its right to enrich uranium.

E-​signing ​expected ⁠within 24 ​hours

Earlier on Saturday, Prime Minister Shehbaz ​Sharif said that the United States and ​Iran have ​agreed to a framework ⁠for a ​peace deal that ​would end the months-long conflict in the Middle ​East, with ​a final text of ‌the ⁠deal reached.

Pakistan is now preparing for an electronic ​signing ​expected ⁠within the next 24 ​hours, followed by ​technical-level ⁠talks next week, PM Shehbaz added in a social media post.

“We are closer to a peace deal than ever before. With finalisation likely expected in the next 24 hours, Pakistan is preparing for the electronic signing of the peace deal immediately after, followed by technical-level talks next week,” PM Shehbaz said in a tweet.

The prime minister also thanked the US and Iran for their ongoing commitment during the negotiations.

“We would like to thank United States of America and Islamic Republic of Iran for their ongoing commitment during the negotiations, and we extend our sincere appreciation to our brothers in the region for their support,” he said, adding that Pakistan hoped the agreement would provide a strong foundation for lasting peace and stability in the region.

US President Donald Trump also shared PM Shehbaz’s tweet on his Truth Social platform

Arab broadcaster Al Arabiya reported that an Iranian delegation led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is expected to arrive in Pakistan on Sunday to oversee discussions related to the prospective accord.

Dar tells Saudi Arabia signing expected on Sunday

The diplomatic outreach also extended to Saudi Arabia, where Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held a telephone conversation with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud.

During the call, Dar informed his Saudi counterpart that the US-Iran peace agreement was expected to be electronically signed on Sunday. The two leaders expressed hope that the agreement would pave the way for lasting peace and stability across the region.

The Saudi foreign minister praised Pakistan’s sustained diplomatic efforts and commended Islamabad’s role in facilitating dialogue and supporting regional peace initiatives.

Both sides underscored the importance of continued cooperation to ensure the success of the peace process and maintain regional stability.

Lebanon reported Israeli strikes in the country’s south on Saturday, as the Israeli army issued evacuation warnings for the city of Nabatieh and more than 20 other locations ahead of raids.

The latest strikes came as the US and Iran indicated they were close to reaching a deal on ending the Middle East war that could also include Lebanon, which was drawn into the conflict when Hezbollah attacked Israel in support of its patron Tehran.

The state-run National News Agency (NNA) said Israeli airstrikes hit several areas covered by the latest warnings, including the villages of Rihan and Sujud not far from Nabatieh, as well as other areas that were not mentioned.

An AFP photojournalist in the Nabatieh area heard blasts around Kfar Remman, which has been repeatedly targeted, and saw a plume of smoke rising from Kfar Tebnit, which was not included in the evacuation warnings.

NNA also said an Israeli strike killed a local official in Rihan, located in the southern region of Jezzine.

An AFP correspondent in Nabatieh said the city was almost deserted, reporting artillery shelling there and in nearby areas overnight and on Saturday.

The Israeli military had issued two warnings to residents of 24 locations — both in and around Nabatieh, and nearer to the coast — to “evacuate your homes immediately and move to the north of the Zahrani River”, around 45 kilometres (28 miles) from the southern border with Israel.

Last month Israel declared all areas south of the river “combat zones”, and has since been heavily striking the area.

Hezbollah, which has kept up attacks on invading Israeli troops, said its fighters launched drone attacks on Israeli military vehicles in the south.

Israel’s military also said it “intercepted a suspicious aerial target that crossed from Lebanon into Israeli territory”.

It later announced that “over the past 24 hours, more than 70 Hezbollah terrorist infrastructure sites were struck”.

‘Fateful test’

Iran insists that Lebanon must be part of any agreement to end the wider Middle East war, and a senior US official said Friday that a draft peace deal “includes Lebanon”.

Neither Israel nor Hezbollah have respected a ceasefire meant to take effect in April, and a conditional truce deal announced this month after Lebanese-Israeli negotiations in Washington has also failed to halt the fighting.

Hezbollah rejected both the direct talks and the conditional agreement, which requires it to cease attacks but makes no mention of Israel doing so or withdrawing troops from Lebanon.

Lebanon says Israel’s massive campaign of airstrikes and ground invasion have so far killed 3,756 people.

Lebanon’s leaders, meanwhile, have accused Tehran of treating their country as a “bargaining chip”.

Hezbollah lawmaker Ali Fayyad said on Saturday Lebanon should make do with any US-Iran deal that included the country.

“We want the Lebanese state to negotiate for itself, and nobody is suggesting forfeiting this role,” Fayyad said, “however, the state must abandon the policy of being crushed in the face of the Israelis and submission to the Americans.”

The prime minister of Pakistan, which has mediated between Tehran and Washington, insisted Saturday that a deal was closer “than ever before”.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said in a statement that Lebanon faces “a fateful test”.

“Either its people unite around a sovereign state that monopolises weapons, upholds the law and protects citizens irrespective of their affiliation or position, or it remains hostage to the logic of militias,” he said.

Further Israel-Lebanon talks are scheduled for later this month.

Prime Minister Shehbaz ​Sharif said on ‌Saturday that the United States and ​Iran have ​agreed to a framework ⁠for a ​peace deal that ​would end the months-long conflict in the Middle ​East, with ​a final text of ‌the ⁠deal reached.

Pakistan is now preparing for an electronic ​signing ​expected ⁠within the next 24 ​hours, followed by ​technical-level ⁠talks next week, PM Shehbaz added in a social media post.

“We are closer to a peace deal than ever before. With finalisation likely expected in the next 24 hours, Pakistan is preparing for the electronic signing of the peace deal immediately after, followed by technical-level talks next week,” PM Shehbaz said in a tweet.

The prime minister also thanked the US and Iran for their ongoing commitment during the negotiations.

“We would like to thank United States of America and Islamic Republic of Iran for their ongoing commitment during the negotiations, and we extend our sincere appreciation to our brothers in the region for their support,” he said, adding that Pakistan hoped the agreement would provide a strong foundation for lasting peace and stability in the region.

US President Donald Trump also shared PM Shehbaz’s tweet on his Truth Social platform.

Arab broadcaster Al Arabiya reported that an Iranian delegation led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is expected to arrive in Pakistan on Sunday to oversee discussions related to the prospective accord.

A day earlier, the prime minister had also announced an understanding on a US-Iran agreement in a statement on X, tagging US President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, US envoy Steve Witkoff, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

He had stated that a final decision on the peace agreement had been reached and that Pakistan was working with the parties to finalise the next steps.

Dar tells Saudi Arabia signing expected on Sunday

The diplomatic outreach also extended to Saudi Arabia, where Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held a telephone conversation with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud.

During the call, Dar informed his Saudi counterpart that the US-Iran peace agreement was expected to be electronically signed on Sunday. The two leaders expressed hope that the agreement would pave the way for lasting peace and stability across the region.

The Saudi foreign minister praised Pakistan’s sustained diplomatic efforts and commended Islamabad’s role in facilitating dialogue and supporting regional peace initiatives.

Both sides underscored the importance of continued cooperation to ensure the success of the peace process and maintain regional stability.

Dar and Cassis discuss ongoing peace efforts

Separately, Dar held a telephone conversation with Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis to discuss the regional situation and ongoing peace efforts.

According to sources, both ministers welcomed progress toward a US-Iran understanding. The Swiss foreign minister praised Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts and its role in promoting regional stability.

The call was the second contact between the Pakistani and Swiss foreign ministers in the past two days. Both sides agreed to remain in close coordination regarding future developments.

Reports regarding a possible visit by PM Shehbaz to Geneva have also gained traction amid speculation that he could attend a signing ceremony for the proposed memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran.

According to reports cited by the Turkish news agency Anadolu, the diplomatic contact between Pakistan and Switzerland came as speculation intensified that a signing ceremony for a potential US-Iran agreement could take place in Geneva on Sunday.

Anadolu, citing a report by Axios, said four US Air Force C-17 transport aircraft departed for Europe on Thursday, reportedly carrying equipment that could be linked to a possible visit by Vice President JD Vance to Geneva, where the expected agreement might be signed.

However, Iran has strongly pushed back against those claims.

According to Iran’s Fars News Agency, a source familiar with Iran’s negotiating team described reports of a signing ceremony with the US in Geneva on Sunday as “completely false.”

The agency said claims by President Donald Trump and some foreign media outlets that the agreement had been completed and would be signed in Geneva on Sunday were inaccurate. It added that both the proposed date and venue had been categorically denied.

Earlier, Reuters had reported, citing a Western source, that a memorandum aimed at securing a ceasefire between the United States and Iran could be signed by Sunday, with Geneva viewed as the most likely venue for talks.

Iran’s Mehr News Agency also reported that a draft memorandum under discussion envisages a 60-day period for negotiations on Iran’s nuclear programme and the complete removal of US primary and secondary sanctions.

The latest developments came a day after President Trump announced that an agreement had been reached with Iran, while Tehran maintained that it had not yet made a final decision on the proposal.

The commander of Iran’s Khatam Al Anbiya Central Headquarters has said the world will soon witness what he described as Iran’s victory and the triumph of its “resistance” against hostile forces.

Major General Ali Abdollahi made the remarks in a message marking the first anniversary of the deaths of Major General Gholamali Rashid and his son, Amin Abbas Rashid, at a ceremony held in Dezful on Friday evening.

Rashid, who previously led the Khatam Al Anbiya Central Headquarters, was appointed to the post in 2016 by Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and served until his death.

The Iranian military said both Rashid and his son were killed in an Israeli strike on Iran on June 13 2025.

In his message, Abdollahi said the deaths were a major loss but also demonstrated Iran’s deterrent strength and national resilience.

He said Israel had mistakenly believed that targeting senior Iranian military figures would weaken the country’s defence capabilities, arguing instead that Rashid left behind a “legacy of knowledge and strategic thinking” for future commanders.

Abdollahi added that Iran’s armed forces were now applying that framework to counter what he described as hybrid and cognitive warfare, while maintaining readiness across land, sea and air borders.

He said Iran’s military capabilities, combined with domestic support, continued to underpin what he called “active deterrence” and national strength.

“The world will soon hear the echo of Iran’s victory and the triumph of resistance over the aggressive and terrorist enemy,” he said.

The United States and Iran are closer than ever to reaching a comprehensive agreement aimed at ending their conflict, with draft terms outlining sweeping changes to sanctions, Iran’s nuclear programme and regional security arrangements, according to a senior US official and multiple sources.

The proposed deal would include the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and provisions addressing Iran’s nuclear programme, including the removal and destruction of its stockpile of highly enriched uranium under an international inspection regime, the US official said.

Under the framework, Iran would be allowed to maintain a civilian nuclear energy programme but would be prevented from developing nuclear weapons.

The US official said the agreement would ensure long-term regional stability while respecting Iran’s sovereignty.

“If all terms are met, the US would ease sanctions on Iran and allow it to reintegrate into the global economy,” the official said, adding that Tehran would be “relieved of the economic pressures” it has faced for years.

Separate draft details described by multiple sources suggest the US would also release billions of dollars in frozen Iranian assets and lift sanctions on Iranian oil exports in exchange for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

The nuclear issue would be addressed over a 60-day negotiating period, with proposals also reportedly including discussions on potential war reparations for Iran and the removal of US demands for limits on Tehran’s missile programme — an account disputed by US officials.

The agreement, if finalised, would include strict verification measures to ensure long-term compliance, officials said.

Diplomatic discussions are also underway over the venue for signing the deal.

The Swiss foreign ministry said it has been in contact with both sides and has proposed Switzerland as a possible location should the parties agree.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that once finalised, the agreement would likely be signed remotely, possibly in the coming days.

A senior Iranian official has dismissed claims by US President Donald Trump and some foreign media outlets that a final Iran-US agreement is ready to be signed in Geneva on Sunday.

“The claims raised by Trump and some foreign media that the agreement has been finalised and is going to be signed on Sunday in Geneva are completely untrue,” the official close to the country’s negotiating team told Iran’s Fars news agency.

The source said Iran’s internal decision-making process on the proposed understanding has not yet been completed, and denied both the reported timing and location of any signing ceremony.

“The review and decision-making process in Iran has not been finalised yet. Therefore, both the announcement of Sunday and the location of Geneva are categorically denied,” the source added.

The comments come amid growing speculation that Tehran and Washington are nearing a memorandum of understanding, with reports suggesting a possible signing in Geneva as early as Sunday, coinciding with the upcoming G7 leaders’ summit in Evian, France.

Another Iranian official source cited by Tasnim news agency also said the draft text has not yet been approved.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said any potential agreement remains in an “internal finalisation stage,” stressing that no final decision has been reached and that any official announcement would follow only after full approval.

He added that details regarding any signing mechanism remain subject to further discussion, describing current reports as largely “media speculation.”

The United Arab Emirates has strongly rejected media reports claiming that funds, including an alleged $3 billion, were transferred from the UAE to Iran.

In a statement, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the allegations published by some international outlets were “entirely false and unfounded,” adding that no frozen Iranian assets have been released, transferred, or facilitated through the country.

The ministry stressed that the reports had no basis in fact and urged media organisations to ensure accuracy and rely on official sources when reporting.

It also called on outlets to avoid circulating unverified claims and “unfounded allegations,” reiterating that the UAE remains committed to transparency in its financial and diplomatic conduct.

US forces shot ​down multiple Iranian one-way ‌attack drones heading toward the Strait of Hormuz, ​a source familiar ​with the matter told ⁠Reuters on Friday, in ​the latest military ​flare-up, even as Washington and Tehran cite progress in peace ​talks.

The source, who ​spoke on condition of anonymity, ‌said ⁠the drones had posed a threat to commercial traffic.

President Donald Trump ​had ​warned ⁠Iran earlier on Friday against firing ​more drones at ​ships ⁠attempting to transit the Strait, saying Tehran “better ⁠get ​their act ​together, and FAST!”

The United States and Iran signalled on Friday that an agreement to end their war was close, with a senior US administration official saying both sides had agreed on a text and that Washington ​expects to sign an initial deal in the coming days.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said that while changes in the deal were still possible, the tentative agreement showed his country ‌had emerged stronger from the conflict.

“Iran is the winner of the war with the US,” he said on state television.

Hours after those remarks, US forces shot down multiple Iranian one-way attack drones heading toward the Strait of Hormuz, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters.

The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the drones had posed a threat to commercial traffic.

US Central Command later confirmed the action and said the waterway was open for transit.

Iranian news agencies had reported that explosions were heard along ​the strait in Iran’s Sirik port and Qeshm island, which residents and local officials attributed to shots fired by Iranian forces to warn vessels attempting to cross the waterway without permission from the ​Revolutionary Guards’ navy.

The proposed memorandum of understanding calls for reopening the strait and lifting the US naval blockade on Iranian ports, sources on all sides of the talks said.

Negotiations over Iran’s nuclear programme — US President Donald Trump’s stated rationale for starting the war — would take place afterwards.

The US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told reporters that the deal met Trump’s core objectives and ​put negotiations “in a very, very good place.”

Accounts of the draft proposal from Western, Pakistani and Iranian sources pointed to terms that could favour Iran, drawing criticism from Trump, who dismissed the reports as inaccurate.

While there were minor differences ​in the details, the proposals broadly offered Tehran much of what it has sought, with Trump appearing to secure little beyond the reopening of the strait, which Iran closed after the US and Israel strikes in February.

Araqchi said Iran would, along with Oman, retain control of traffic through the strait, which before the war handled one-fifth of the world’s oil and gas supply.

“Our sword will always hang over the Strait of Hormuz,” he said.

A Western source said the deal could be signed as soon as Sunday ​by US Vice President JD Vance and Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, with Geneva seen as the likeliest venue.

The US administration official said Europe had been discussed as a venue for signing, but no decision had ​been made.

Araqchi said the deal would be signed remotely before it is announced.

What’s in the deal?

Draft terms of the deal described to Reuters by multiple sources indicate the US would begin releasing billions of dollars in frozen Iranian assets and waive ‌sanctions on its ⁠oil exports, in return for Iran opening the strait.

Iran’s nuclear program would be addressed during a 60-day period of talks.

The US official said the agreement would ultimately lead to the dismantling of Iran’s nuclear programme, with its stockpile of highly enriched uranium to be destroyed and removed.

The terms also include an inspection regime to ensure compliance over the long term.

But Araqchi told state television that Iran, which sources said has not accepted the dismantling of its nuclear programme, wanted to retain the uranium in diluted form.

“For Tehran, the only preferred solution for its highly enriched uranium stockpile is down-blending the material,” he said.

The proposals include discussion of possible war reparations for Tehran ​and dropping longstanding US demands for limits on Iran’s ​missile programme, the sources said.

The US official disputed ⁠that account.

“None of their money released until they perform. Strait of Hormuz will be open. No Iran funding of terrorist groups,” said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

“This is what they have agreed to. This is a performance-based deal.”

Israel not party to memorandum

Israel has not been part of the negotiations, and Prime Minister Benjamin ​Netanyahu said his country would not be party to the agreement.

Netanyahu has clashed with Trump in recent weeks over US demands that Israel curb military action ​in Lebanon to allow Washington to ⁠reach a deal with Tehran.

Araqchi said the agreement would end the war in Lebanon, implying an Israeli withdrawal from occupied areas.

Israel’s defence minister said it would not withdraw.

A senior Israeli official said Israel expects to retain its freedom to act against threats.

Oil price falls

Progress towards an agreement has emerged at the end of a week that brought a sharp escalation in hostilities in the Gulf, including Israeli-Iranian exchanges of fire and US strikes on Iranian targets, followed by retaliation ⁠against US bases.

Global ​stock markets rose and oil prices fell on the news.

Brent crude prices were down more than 3% at their lowest in ​nearly two months.

The conflict has become a political headache for the White House, amid rising fuel prices and slipping approval ratings for Trump.

Some Republicans worry that the war’s unpopularity could cost them control of Congress in November’s midterm elections.

But many of Trump’s fellow Republicans may ​have difficulty endorsing an agreement viewed as too favourable to Iran.

Iran’s foreign minister said Friday that a deal with the United States to end the Middle East war was closer than ever, as a senior US official and key mediator Pakistan both expressed mounting optimism for an elusive agreement.

Publicly, however, the warring sides’ negotiating positions remain far apart, with Iranian state media publishing a breakdown of what was purportedly on the table that stood sharply at odds with Washington’s longstanding red lines.

Over weeks of halting negotiations — marked by threats and exchanges of fire despite an April truce – US President Donald Trump has repeatedly insisted that a deal was all but signed, only for talks to drag on.

The president had repeated that assertion on Thursday, but on Friday lashed out at Tehran, accusing it of negotiating in bad faith following the Iranian media reports.

In a social media post, Trump dismissed the Iranian accounts as having “NOTHING to do with the terms that were agreed to, in writing”.

“Very dishonorable people to deal with,” he continued. “They better get their act together, and FAST!”

But Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, appeared to play down the row.

“The Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding has never been closer,” he wrote in a social media post, referring to the Pakistani capital that hosted previous US-Iran talks.

“Pending its finalization, the media should refrain from entering speculation about its content,” he added.

Trump later posted a screenshot of Araghchi’s message on his own feed.

Disputing Trump’s “bad faith” accusation, foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said an agreement had now been reached with Washington “on most points”.

He added that a meeting was also currently underway in Iran to finalise a consensus.

“We are in the last phases of arriving at a conclusion,” he said.

‘Not 100 per cent’

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, whose country has been a key mediator since the initial talks, confirmed that “a final, agreed-upon text of the peace deal has been reached”.

“Peace has never been as close as it is now,” Sharif said, while acknowledging “incessant misinformation” surrounding the deal.

A senior US official also voiced optimism that the parties would be “signing this agreement over the next few days”.

“If I were to give you a confidence that we were going to be signing this agreement, I maybe would have said 75 percent this morning, it’s probably more like 80-85 percent now, but it’s not 100 percent,” the official told reporters in a call.

The Swiss foreign ministry on Friday said it had been in contact with both the US and Iran, and had “proposed Switzerland as the venue for a possible signing, should the parties agree to it”.

US ally Israel has said that Trump had promised it that any agreement would see Iran stripped of its enriched nuclear material, but Tehran’s official IRNA news agency said this was not even on the table.

‘Not sure how I feel’

According to IRNA’s account, after an initial agreement is signed, Iran and the US would hold 60 more days of talks and “Iran’s right to enrich uranium and the retention of enriched material… will be emphasised with a view to their inclusion in the final agreement”.

Beyond this, according to IRNA, Iran would insist on managing traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, the key maritime trade route carrying oil and gas from the Gulf, which Tehran has blockaded since the outbreak of the war.

On Friday, Iran’s Mehr news agency, quoting a source close to the country’s negotiating team, said the deal would also see the release of $24 billion in frozen Iranian assets.

But those details clashed with a summary offered by a senior White House official, who told AFP Iran had agreed to dismantle its nuclear program, destroy its enriched uranium stockpile and reopen the strait – and that Tehran would not see any of its frozen funds returned until it had honoured these commitments.

US Vice President JD Vance likewise said Iran was “not receiving any cash, and no funds are being released for simply signing a deal or attending a meeting”.

But, he added, if “Iran meets its obligations, then economic benefits will flow to them and to the entire region”.

In Tehran, some ordinary Iranians feared a deal would entrench the authorities’ rule.

“I am not sure how I feel,” a 29-year-old cafe worker told AFP on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution.

“The main purpose of this war was for the US to remove the system and this did not happen. So what does a deal do?”

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Friday that the final text of a US-Iran peace deal had been agreed, as a senior American official said Washington was 80 to 85 per cent confident of signing the agreement within days.

“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,” Sharif posted on X, tagging both the US and Iranian presidents and other senior leaders from both countries.

“Peace has never been as close as it is now,” he added.

“Amid ongoing intense mediation efforts by Pakistan, we are fully aware of incessant misinformation campaign being waged by those who want to sabotage the peace deal,” Sharif added.

A senior Trump administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told reporters the US expected to sign the agreement within the coming days.

“We do expect us to be signing this agreement over the next few days. I can’t give you an exact date,” the official said.

“If I were to give you a confidence that we were going to be signing this agreement, I maybe would have said 75 per cent this morning, it’s probably more like 80-85 per cent now, but it’s not 100 per cent.”

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also said on Friday that a deal had never been closer, after Trump accused Tehran of negotiating in bad faith.

Sources said PM Shehbaz is likely to fly to Geneva as early as Saturday, accompanied by a high-level delegation, to attend the anticipated signing ceremony.

US President Donald Trump ​said on Friday ‌that Iran’s leaked comments on a ​deal with the ​United States do not ⁠represent what ​has been agreed to.

“What ​they said, including their weak and pathetic ​statement on having ​a deal, bears no ‌relation ⁠to the truth. Very dishonourable people to deal with. ​With ​them, ⁠there is no such thing ​as dealing ​in ⁠good faith. AMAZING!,” he wrote on ⁠Truth ​Social.

“They’d better get their act together, and ​FAST!,” Trump said.

Trump said on Thursday he was calling off new ​strikes on Iran because a deal had been reached.

Terms of the deal as described on Friday by Iranian officials appear to offer Tehran much ​of what it has demanded so far, with Trump appearing ​to win little of what he has sought, beyond the reopening of the ‌Strait ⁠of Hormuz, which Iran shut after he ordered attacks in February.

A senior Iranian source told Reuters on Friday that the draft would waive sanctions on Iran’s oil, unfreeze billions of dollars ​of its funds, ​and require ⁠a cessation of hostilities on all fronts, including in Lebanon.

Nuclear issues would be set aside for ​later talks. Washington wants a deal to ensure ​that Iran ⁠never develops a nuclear weapon; Iran says it is not seeking one.

The waiving of sanctions, unfreezing of Iranian assets and halt ⁠to ​Israeli attacks on Lebanon are essential Iranian ​demands. The source made no mention of what Iran might offer in return.

Hezbollah is confident that Iran will insist on Lebanon being included in a deal with the United States, a leading Hezbollah politician said ​on Friday, as hopes grew for an agreement between Tehran and Washington.

Hezbollah, founded ‌by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards in 1982, entered the regional conflict in support of Tehran on March 2, opening fire at Israel and prompting an Israeli offensive that has killed thousands ​of people in Lebanon.

Iranian officials have repeatedly insisted on an end to ​fighting in Lebanon as part of any wider agreement.

“If the ⁠agreement happens, we have complete confidence in the Islamic Republic … we have confidence ​that it will insist on any agreement, including the file of Lebanon,” Hassan Fadlallah, ​a Hezbollah politician, said in an excerpt of a speech broadcast by the group’s al-Manar TV.

Israeli forces have occupied swathes of southern Lebanon, where Lebanon’s National News Agency reported new ​Israeli airstrikes in several towns and villages on Friday.

A Western source said a ​memorandum between the United States and Iran to halt the war in the Gulf could be signed as ⁠soon as Sunday. The source said that language in the memorandum was still being finalised and Iran was sticking to its position that the deal must also end fighting in Lebanon.

Last week, Mohsen Rezaei, an adviser to Iran’s supreme leader, said ​Hezbollah had “made great ​sacrifices” in the ⁠war and that Lebanon “will be an inseparable part of any agreement and any ceasefire”, in comments reported by the semi-official ​Mehr news agency.

The war in Lebanon has continued despite several ​ceasefires announced ⁠by the United States, which has been mediating talks between the Lebanese and Israeli governments.

Hezbollah is not a party to the talks and has demanded that the Lebanese government ⁠quit ​the process.

Hezbollah rejected a US-backed plan declared last week ​that would be contingent on the group ceasing fire and withdrawing its fighters from southern Lebanon.

Iran’s Fars news agency, citing an unnamed source, said on Thursday that Tehran has not yet approved a text for any deal with the United States.

“No text has been approved for an initial memorandum of understanding with the United States,” said Fars, quoting what it said was an informed source close to Iran’s negotiating team.

US President Donald Trump had earlier said he had called off planned strikes on Iran and flagged the signing of a possible deal with Tehran.

“Based on the fact that discussions with the Islamic Republic of Iran have been brought to the highest level of Iranian leadership and approved, I have… cancelled the scheduled strikes and bombings against Iran this evening,” Trump posted on his Truth Social network.

There has been no official comment from Iran on a possible deal with the United States.

Iran’s Tasnim news agency dismissed Trump’s announcement, saying the US president had made similar declarations in the past without any outcome.

“Until Iran announces the matter of a potential understanding, any news from Trump on this subject should be regarded as his previous messages,” it said.

Tehran and Washington have been swapping proposals to end the war, which broke out on February 28 and engulfed the Middle East.

In recent days, the two sides have increasingly engaged in exchanges of fire despite a fragile ceasefire has been in place since April 8.

The UAE’s Emaar Properties announced a development project in Dubai worth $55 billion on Thursday, months after the Middle East war saw Iran strikes hit the city and rattle its economy.

“Emaar Properties announces plans for a landmark masterplan in the heart of Dubai, with a total development value of AED200 billion,” the Dubai Media Office said, in a social media post.

The development will span 4.5 million square metres and is expected to accomodate nearly 150,000 residents, it added.

Emaar chairman Mohamed Alabbar said in a statement on Instagram that the project would have a view of Dubai’s top landmarks.

This includes Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest skyscraper, Burj Al Arab, often referred to as a seven-star hotel, and the Palm Jumeirah, an artificial island shaped like its namesake.

The announcement comes two months after a truce in the Middle East war, which saw Iran pound its Gulf neighbours as retaliation for US-Israeli strikes that decimated its leadership.

Iran launched nearly 3,000 missiles and drones at the UAE — more than any other country in the region, including Tehran’s arch-foe Israel.

Although most of the attacks were intercepted, the shock of war in a region long seen as a safe haven has taken a toll on Gulf economies, including the emirate of Dubai.

The city largely relies on tourists and air travel through its airport for revenue — and its real estate market was booming before the conflict.

Since a shaky ceasefire took hold on April 8, the Gulf has seen intermittent attacks, though the UAE has been spared since drones launched from Iraq hit a generator at the Barakah nuclear power plant last month.

US President Donald Trump withdrew his threat to launch a more devastating wave of bombings against Iran on Thursday and promised instead that he would soon be able to announce the signing of a deal with Tehran to end the war.

As the World Cup opening ceremony got underway in Mexico, Trump posted news of a potential breakthrough, triggering a stock market rally and sending oil prices tumbling on hopes that Gulf exports could soon return to normal.

“Based on the fact that discussions with the Islamic Republic of Iran have been brought to the highest level of Iranian leadership and approved, I have… cancelled the scheduled strikes and bombings against Iran this evening,” Trump posted.

“Time and place of the signing to be announced shortly,” he promised, after explaining that the finer points of the arrangement had been approved by the United States and its allies in the region, including Israel, with which Washington jointly launched the war in February.

There was no immediate official reaction from Iran, but the Fars news agency said that an informed source close to Tehran’s negotiating team had said: “No text has been approved for a preliminary memorandum of understanding with the United States.”

The Tasnim news agency noted that Trump had already announced a deal was imminent 38 times in the previous two months and warned: “Until Iran announces the matter of a potential understanding, any news from Trump on this subject should be regarded the same as his previous messaging.”

Markets had been nervous that the latest exchanges of threats and missile fire across the Gulf would further disrupt the global economy, and the World Bank had earlier in the day revised down its global growth forecast to a level not seen since the coronavirus pandemic.

‘Great detail’

But stocks surged, and oil futures contracts were down more than three per cent in the minutes after Trump’s optimistic announcement.

The war, which began on February 28 with a wave of US-Israeli strikes on Iran that killed supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was paused under an April truce, but efforts to hammer out a permanent end to the fighting had since appeared to stall.

Trump’s statement, however, suggested that the back-channel mediation led by US allies like Pakistan and Qatar may have borne fruit — despite his having vowed earlier that the US would hit Iran “VERY HARD TONIGHT”.

Discussions and final points have been, in both concept and great detail, approved by all parties involved, including the United States, Israel, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Turkey, Pakistan, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, Egypt and others,“ he posted.

“The Naval Blockade will remain in full force and effect until this Transaction is finalized,” he said, just a day after he had declared that not only would US forces step up airstrikes but also that they would seize control of Iran’s oil export facility on Kharg Island in the Gulf.

Hardliners at home

Just over an hour before Trump’s post, Iran’s chief negotiator in the talks, parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, had issued a stark warning.

“Wrong strategies and impulsive decisions will reset the entire board for the worse, explode energy infrastructure and markets and create an endless quagmire that you will be stuck in for years,” he said.

General Ali Abdollahi, head of the Iranian military’s central headquarters, warned that if the United States attacked, “it will receive a harsher response than before, and the flames of war, in addition to creating insecurity in the region, will become more widespread and far-reaching”.

Mediators Pakistan and Qatar had suggested back-channel efforts to negotiate an end to the war were ongoing in spite of the flare-up, though Islamabad cautioned it was “hard to be an optimist” in light of the escalation.

China, the biggest buyer of Iranian oil, had called for more negotiations, with a foreign ministry spokesperson urging the warring parties “to immediately cease military operations… (and) respond to the mediation efforts”.

Civilians living under threat of a renewed strike in Tehran were pessimistic. Majid, a 35-year-old pharmacist, said the economic knock-on effects of the fighting were crippling normal life.

“I am absolutely not optimistic about the agreement being finalised, because the gap between the two countries is too wide,” he said, blaming the lack of progress on Israel — which also traded fire with Iran in recent days — as well as hardliners at home.

Iran has renewed its warnings over the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for oil and gas transport that it has essentially closed since early in the war, roiling global energy markets. Iran’s new body overseeing the strait said it “will be closed until further notice”.