Iran Reviews Draft Agreement as Peace Deal Faces Delay
Why this matters: local context for readers following news across Pakistan and the region.
Iran has yet to make a final decision on the proposed framework agreement aimed at ending the ongoing conflict with the United States, Iranian state media reported. The report said Iranian authorities are still reviewing the political, legal, and technical details of the memorandum of understanding, with discussions continuing at both expert and senior decision-making levels. Earlier, the US and Pakistani officials had expressed optimism that a preliminary agreement to halt months of hostilities could be signed on Sunday. However, Iran has raised uncertainty regarding the expected timeline. US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that an agreement with Iran was expected to be signed on Sunday, which coincides with his 80th birthday. Meanwhile, a senior Iranian official stated that the US has agreed to release nearly $25 billion in frozen assets. The arrangement reportedly includes direct cash transfers, regional financial cooperation, and credit facilities. According to the same official, the draft also contains a US commitment to temporarily suspend oil-related sanctions, allowing Iran to resume oil exports and access the resulting revenues. In return, Iran has reportedly agreed to immediately reopen the Strait of Hormuz for all commercial shipping, while the US would end its naval blockade in the region. The proposed memorandum further states that the US will refrain from introducing any new sanctions against Iran while negotiations continue toward a final agreement. Separately, the Iranian official said Tehran has agreed that it will neither develop nor obtain nuclear weapons under the terms being discussed with the US. The draft framework also reportedly includes a clause allowing Iran to dilute its stockpile of highly enriched uranium within the country, with both sides expected to finalise the mechanism for the process over the next 60 days. Until a comprehensive agreement is reached, Iran has committed to maintaining its current nuclear posture, meaning no