Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei says the signing of a peace deal could happen ‘in the coming days’
The leaders of the United States and Pakistan predict Sunday, June 14, the signing of long-term system agreement to end hostilities between the US and Iran, but Tehran questioned the timing and hard-line protesters in Iran expressed opposition.
President Donald Trump he posted on social media on Saturday, June 13, that the agreement with Iran was scheduled to be signed the next day, his 80th birthday. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the two sides had agreed on the framework of the peace agreement and that Islamabad was preparing for an electronic signing on Sunday, followed by technical-level talks next week.
But Iran did not confirm the signing on Sunday. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei, speaking before Trump’s post, cautioned against commenting on the timing of the signing but was quoted by state media as saying, “It won’t be tomorrow,” but it could happen “in the future.”
Trump wrote on Social Truth that after the framework agreement was signed, the Strait of Hormuz, an important artery for the world’s oil supply that Iran has blocked“it would be open to all.”
Iranian punters continue to appear
While U.S. bombings have severely damaged Iran’s military and industrial base and decimated its army, experts say the war has left the Revolutionary Guard’s brutal regime more entrenched than ever.
Videos on social media and Iranian news sites showed opponents of the accord gathering in squares and in front of Tehran’s Foreign Ministry, appearing to blame Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi while chanting, “Araqchi is ashamed, stop America!”
Reuters could not immediately confirm the videos.
Time The US and Israel started a war against Iran on February 28, Trump called on Iranians to wake up and take over government institutions.
Even when the United States and Iran seem to be moving towards an agreement in the past two days, the fighting has continued, with the US military imposing sanctions against Iran and seeking to loosen Iran’s grip on the Strait of Hormuz, which was the channel for 20% of the world’s oil exports before the war.
Earlier on Saturday, the US military shot down dozens of Iranian drones heading towards the strait, the US military said. Israel, which says it is not a party to the US-Iran deal, said on Saturday that it had struck more than 70 sites in a 24-hour period in Lebanon against Iran’s ally Hezbollah.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has clashed with Trump over US demands that Israel halt military action in Lebanon to allow Washington to reach an agreement with Tehran.
On Friday, Araqchi said that while changes to the deal were still possible, the tentative agreement showed that his country had emerged stronger from the conflict.
Opening the narrow door first, nuclear talks later
At pro-government rallies across Iran on Saturday night, residents and news agencies reported that hard-line opposition to the accords loudly voiced their displeasure.
A resident in the northeastern city of Mashhad told Reuters that some protesters chanted: “Death to the founder,” in an apparent tribute to Araqchi. “Imposter, resign, resign.”
The proposed memorandum of understanding calls for reopening the strait and lifting the US naval blockade, sources on both sides of the talks said. Talks on Iran’s nuclear program – the main reason Trump has given for war – will take place later.
“Iran will open the Strait of Hormuz, that is a requirement. It can be opened duty-free. If they do, we will lift our blockade,” a US official told reporters.
“It will happen together, and part of the next step, the phase after that, will be to clear the doubts,” the official said, indicating countries in the Group of Seven major nations could play a role in this.
Trump discussed efforts to end the Iran crisis in a call with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Downing Street said Saturday.
The terms of the draft described to Reuters by multiple sources indicate that the United States will begin releasing billions of dollars in frozen Iranian assets and lifting restrictions on its oil exports, in return for Iran opening the channel.
Iran’s Fars news agency quoted Baghaei as saying the release of Iran’s frozen assets is an important part of the deal and also that Iran will have to charge for services in the Strait of Hormuz.
He said foreign military bases in the area must stop, the agency reported, without elaborating.
Iran’s nuclear program will be addressed during the 60-day negotiation period. A US official said the deal would ultimately lead to the dismantling of Iran’s nuclear program, with its stockpile of highly enriched uranium destroyed and removed. – Rappler.com
