ISLAMABAD: Pakistan said on Friday a final text of a proposed peace deal between the United States and Iran had been agreed, despite public disagreement between Washington and Tehran over its contents.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan, which has been mediating between the two sides, was now working with both governments to finalize the next steps toward ending months of conflict involving the US, Israel and Iran.
“Amid ongoing intense mediation efforts by Pakistan, we are fully aware of incessant misinformation campaign being waged by those who want to sabotage the peace deal,” Sharif wrote on X.
“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 finalize the next steps,” he added. “Peace has never been this close as it is now.”
Sharif’s statement marked the strongest indication yet that negotiations may be nearing a conclusion, even as senior US and Iranian officials continued to publicly dispute key aspects of the proposed agreement.
Earlier on Friday, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi also maintained the proposed “Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding” had “never been closer,” though he urged media outlets to avoid speculating about its contours at this stage.
“In line with our responsible and transparent approach, all details will be shared with the public in due course,” he said.
Prior to that, US President Donald Trump accused Iran of misrepresenting the agreement and said Iranian descriptions of the draft bore “no relation to the truth.”
“What they said, including their weak and pathetic statement on having a deal, bears no relation to the truth,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“Very dishonorable people to deal with. With them, there is no such thing as dealing in good faith.”
Trump had announced on Thursday that he was calling off planned new strikes on Iran because a deal had been reached, but details emerging from Iranian officials on Friday appeared to diverge from Washington’s public position.
A senior Iranian source told Reuters that the draft agreement would include the lifting of sanctions on Iranian oil exports, the unfreezing of billions of dollars in Iranian assets and a cessation of hostilities on multiple fronts, including in Lebanon.
Iranian state media also reported that Tehran would retain control over the Strait of Hormuz under the proposed arrangement and would make no commitment to restore conditions that existed before the outbreak of conflict with the US and Israel in February.
The reports did not specify what concessions Iran would make in return. Washington has repeatedly said any agreement must ensure that Iran never develops a nuclear weapon, while Tehran maintains that its nuclear program is solely for peaceful purposes.
Pakistan has emerged as a key venue in recent diplomatic efforts to end the conflict, with the government in Islamabad bringing together officials from the two countries for direct talks in April.
Pakistan has also served as a channel of communication between Washington and Tehran during recent military exchanges, helping convey messages between the two sides as negotiations progressed.
With input from wire services.
