US and Iran signal progress on agreement but Tehran says no signing Sunday

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei confirmed Saturday that the signing of a framework agreement with the US will not occur Sunday, though negotiations could still conclude in the coming days. The statement came after Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shebaz Sharif claimed on X that a peace deal could be finalized within the next 24 hours. A source familiar with the talks also told CNN an electronic signing might happen by the end of Sunday or sooner. The Iranian government described the potential agreement as a memorandum outlining key points of disagreement, emphasizing that it would clarify an end to the war. However, discrepancies remain between Iran’s and the US’s descriptions of the deal’s terms. Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry stated an electronic signing ceremony was scheduled for Sunday, following discussions between Pakistani Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar and his Saudi Arabian counterpart. The US military separately reported downing multiple Iranian drones near the Strait of Hormuz, asserting that traffic through the waterway remains unaffected despite a recent drop in activity. Discrepancies in timelines persist, with Iranian officials pushing back against Pakistan’s optimism. The US has not yet commented on the latest developments. Meanwhile, tensions in the region continue, as evidenced by the drone incident and the ongoing negotiations.