Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has hinted that the ongoing chaos in the Middle East, which has persisted for over 100 days, might finally come to an end. Sharif indicated that the United States and Iran could finalize a peace deal within the next 24 hours, marking a significant diplomatic breakthrough after months of conflict and negotiations.
Peace Deal Imminent
In a post on the social media platform X, Sharif stated, "We are closer to a peace deal than ever before. With finalisation likely expected in the next 24 hours, Pakistan is preparing for the electronic signing of the peace deal immediately after, followed by technical level talks next week." He thanked the United States and Iran for their "ongoing commitment" throughout the negotiations and expressed appreciation for the support extended by countries in the region.
"We are confident that this historic peace deal will form a strong foundation for lasting peace," he added, tagging US President Donald Trump, US Vice President JD Vance, US Secretary Marco Rubio, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
Lack of Confirmation
However, as of now, there is no confirmation from either the White House or Iranian authorities regarding Sharif's latest comments on the expected timing of the agreement. The Pakistani premier's remarks came a day after he said that the United States and Iran had agreed on the text of a peace deal. "Setting aside the noise, we can confirm that a final, agreed upon text of the peace deal has been reached and Pakistan is now working closely with both sides to finalise the next steps," Sharif said on Friday.
Iranian Hints of Progress
At the same time, Tehran also hinted towards progress. Earlier, Araghchi said the "Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding has never been closer." He added, "Pending its finalisation, the media should refrain from entering speculation about its content. In line with our responsible and transparent approach, all details will be shared with the public in due course." Iranian officials have maintained that while an agreement appears to be nearing completion, the memorandum of understanding remains under review.
US Stance
On Washington’s front, Trump said that the United States was close to reaching an agreement with Iran to wind down the conflict and that a memorandum of understanding could be signed within the coming days. Meanwhile, Vance urged caution amid widespread speculation surrounding the proposed arrangement, warning against what he described as "a lot of fake information" circulating about a potential deal. "The Iranians are not receiving any cash, and no funds are being released for simply signing a deal or attending a meeting," Vance said in a social media post. He added that any economic benefits for Iran would depend on the country fulfilling its commitments under the proposed agreement. "This deal has the potential to remake the region and lead to lasting peace," Vance said, while cautioning against reliance on unverified media reports and anonymous social media claims.
Background of the Conflict
The conflict, which began on February 28, has rattled global markets, strained regional alliances, and intensified diplomatic efforts aimed at securing a negotiated settlement. After a fragile ceasefire was established in April, Pakistan hosted the first round of peace talks later that month. Senior officials from both sides attended the discussions, but the negotiations ended without a deal being reached.
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