US President Donald Trump has declared that a landmark peace agreement with Iran is slated for signing today, also promising that the critical Strait of Hormuz will be “open to all” as a result. Trump suggested that the Iran war deal would eventually secure the nuclear material for the United States. However, Trump’s optimistic timeline is contradicted by the absence of any scheduled signing ceremony on the White House’s official itinerary, casting significant doubt on the immediacy of the breakthrough.
US-Iran Diplomatic Brinkmanship and Conflicting Timelines
According to emerging reports, despite Trump’s claims of a potential ‘deal of the century’ in the making, Tehran has directly contested the timeline. Iranian officials have explicitly stated that the signing will not occur on the schedule suggested by the US side.
While mediators, specifically Pakistan, have indicated that a “final, agreed-upon text” had been drawn up, Iran has yet to announce a formal decision on the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has reportedly confirmed that the ministry is currently reviewing the draft, noting that while the prospect of a deal has “never been closer,” the internal deliberations within the Supreme National Security Council remain ongoing.
Araghchi emphasised that the proposed agreement is structured in two phases. The first phase focuses primarily on ending the war across all fronts, including in Lebanon, and addressing the naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Critical, long-term issues, such as the nuclear file and the complex details surrounding sanctions, are being deferred to a second period lasting 60 days. Araghchi suggested that the MoU could potentially be signed remotely, pending the final collective decision of the Iranian leadership.
Mounting Skepticism
The prospect of such an agreement has faced immediate scrutiny within the United States, with Democratic lawmakers expressing “deep scepticism.” One congressman characterised Trump’s potential deal as “basically a surrender document”. Concurrently, the move has triggered a backlash in Israel, where commentators and officials have warned that the agreement could inadvertently empower Tehran rather than contain it.
As Trump promotes the deal as a cornerstone of regional stability, the reality on the ground remains volatile. Global energy markets continue to react to the uncertainty surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, which has served as a central front in the conflict since March. With no formal outcome announced and both sides continuing to navigate internal political pressures, the diplomatic path forward remains in limbo despite the administration’s insistence that a resolution is imminent.
Iran Marks First Anniversary of 12-Day Conflict
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Sunday publicly commemorated the first anniversary of the 12-day war between Iran and Israel, describing the intense period of conflict as a powerful testament to the Iranian people’s resilience and national cohesion. In a formal address documented by the state-run IRNA news agency, the Iranian President emphasised that the collective spirit demonstrated during the crisis served as a defining symbol of Iran’s internal strength.
Iran Reframes US-Israel War as a ‘Strategic Miscalculation’
Pezeshkian, in his address, asserted that the Israeli government fundamentally underestimated Iran’s internal stability when it initiated the conflict on June 13. According to his statement, the Israeli strategy, which involved targeted strikes against senior military officials, political leaders, nuclear scientists, and civilians, failed to achieve its objective of destabilising the nation.
The Iranian President further credited the survival of the state during this period to the steadfast “resistance” of the populace, the influence of the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and the preparedness of the country’s armed forces. He argued that this unified front was the primary factor that thwarted Israel’s military goals, eventually compelling the initiation of a ceasefire on June 24.
The 12-day escalation saw significant damage to Iranian infrastructure after the United States joined the fray, launching coordinated strikes against key nuclear facilities, including those at Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan. Furthermore, reflecting on the anniversary, Tehran used the occasion to reinforce a narrative of triumph over external military pressure.
