President Donald Trump declared on Saturday that a long-awaited deal to end the war with Iran will be signed on Sunday, with the critical Strait of Hormuz reopening to all shipping right after.
In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump stated: “The Deal is scheduled to get signed tomorrow, and immediately after it is signed, the Hormuz Strait is OPEN TO ALL.”
The announcement came as the world held its breath for a potential peace breakthrough. Earlier on Saturday, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif indicated that a deal’s finalization was expected within 24 hours. Pakistan has been a key mediator in the U.S.-Iran negotiations.
This development follows Trump’s decision earlier this week to call off a planned bombardment of Iran, citing a pending agreement with the Islamic republic that could be signed over the weekend. The move came after heavy U.S. attacks on Iranian targets near the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump previously suggested that Iran had already agreed to a pact, while Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi noted that a “Memorandum of Understanding has never been closer.”
Beyond the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil shipping lane, other key issues remain under negotiation. These include whether Iranian assets will be unfrozen and whether the U.S. Navy will lift its blockade on Iranian ports.
Araghchi indicated that Iran’s nuclear program will be addressed after the deal is signed. Trump said on Saturday that the United States will “go in and get the Nuclear Dust” at an “appropriate” time. Vice President JD Vance pushed back against the idea of unfreezing Iranian assets, at least until the U.S. is satisfied that Iran has upheld its end of the bargain.
A senior administration official told reporters on Saturday that the United States expects wealthy G7 nations to help demine the Strait of Hormuz to speed up its reopening. The reopening of the strait with no tolls is a condition of the potential agreement still being negotiated. The U.K. and France are already leading a coalition with mine sweepers in the area.
The deal promises to end the campaign that Trump and ally Israel launched on Feb. 28, which has led to skyrocketing global fuel prices, thousands of deaths under U.S. and Israeli bombs, and the loss of 13 U.S. servicemembers.
There was no immediate confirmation from Iran that a deal is set to be signed on Sunday. USA TODAY has reached out to the White House for further details on the potential signing.
