WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that a framework agreement with Iran could be signed within hours, setting a public deadline for a deal that his administration says would begin a broader diplomatic process, while Iranian officials cautioned that the timing remained uncertain.
Trump, writing on social media and speaking through statements released by the White House, said the agreement was expected to be signed on Sunday and would mark a step toward ending months of hostilities between the United States and Iran. Iranian officials, however, declined to confirm a specific signing date and said discussions on final details were continuing.
The proposed agreement centers on a memorandum of understanding that would establish a framework for future negotiations rather than immediately resolve all outstanding disputes. According to U.S. and Iranian officials involved in the talks, the memorandum would open a 60-day period for negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program and other unresolved issues.
Trump said the deal would lead to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global energy shipments. “The Strait of Hormuz will be open to all,” Trump wrote, according to reports of his public statements. U.S. officials have said the reopening of the waterway is among the central objectives of the framework.
A senior Iranian official told Reuters that the draft memorandum includes temporary relief from certain U.S. oil sanctions, the release of frozen Iranian assets and commitments related to Iran’s nuclear activities while longer-term negotiations proceed. The official said the draft also outlines measures aimed at restoring commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
Pakistan, which has participated in mediation efforts, said the two sides had agreed on a final text of the framework and were preparing for a signing process. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said arrangements were being made for an electronic signing, according to public statements cited by international media.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry urged caution regarding expectations for an immediate breakthrough. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said the agreement would not necessarily be signed on Sunday and indicated that additional review remained necessary. He added that a deal could still emerge in the coming days.
The proposed framework does not include a final settlement of Iran’s nuclear program. Officials from both countries have said technical discussions would continue after any memorandum is signed, with key issues scheduled to be addressed during the subsequent negotiating period.
As of Sunday evening, neither Washington nor Tehran had announced that the agreement had been formally signed. Officials on both sides said talks were continuing, and details regarding the timing of any final endorsement remained unclear.
