Iran said the Iran-US memorandum will not be signed on Sunday. This pushes back on expectations of a signing within 24 hours after Pakistan announced progress in the talks.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Tehran must be cautious about any signing date because of “hesitation” from the United States. He made this comment, according to Iranian state media and regional reports.
The memorandum under negotiation with Pakistan as mediator does not address Iran’s nuclear programme, Baghaei said. He said the immediate aim was to consolidate the end of the conflict.
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had said a “final, agreed-upon text” had been reached. Moreover, he said a deal could be signed within 24 hours. Al Jazeera reported that Sharif said Pakistan was working with both sides on the next steps.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the agreement had “never been closer” but urged the media to avoid speculation. CBS News reported that Araghchi said the memorandum could be signed remotely in the coming days.
Baghaei said negotiators had decided not to include the nuclear issue at this stage. The nuclear file would move to a separate process over the next 60 days.
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The current framework focuses on ending the war on all fronts, including in Lebanon. It also addresses future arrangements for the Strait of Hormuz.
US President Donald Trump rejected leaked conditions attributed to Iran and called them “fake news.” Meanwhile, Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf said Iran would stand firm after what he called the “12-Day War.”
