Pakistan says US-Iran peace deal text finalized, but sides give conflicting accounts

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif confirmed on Friday that a final, agreed text of a peace agreement between the United States and Iran has been reached. In a statement on X, he said Pakistan is now working closely with both sides to complete the next steps.

However, Washington and Tehran presented sharply different versions of the proposed deal. A senior US administration official claimed that Iran agreed to five key points: its nuclear materials would be destroyed and removed, its nuclear program eliminated, and frozen funds would not be released until the Strait of Hormuz is opened and Iran stops financing terrorist groups.

Iran's official news agency IRNA, on the other hand, stated that the removal of nuclear materials was never discussed and that Tehran insists on retaining control over traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. According to IRNA, after signing an initial memorandum of understanding, the two sides will hold 60 days of talks, emphasizing Iran's right to enrich uranium and keep enriched material.

Both sides are clearly trying to show they have gained an advantage in the war that the US and Israel launched against Iran on February 28. President Donald Trump on Thursday claimed a "great deal" would be signed in Europe this weekend, but Tehran said nothing is finalized. CNN calculated that Trump has made such a claim at least 39 times since March 23.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi acknowledged on Friday that the US and Iran have "never been closer" to an agreement, referring to the Islamabad memorandum, but urged media to refrain from speculating on its content.