PM Shehbaz congratulates Trump as Iran ceasefire deal nears completion

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated US President Donald Trump for actively engaging in peace prospects by holding a “very useful” and “productive” phone call on Saturday with the leaders of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkiye, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan and Pakistan.

Prime Minister Shehbaz also appreciated Defense Forces Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir’s role in the process.

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“Pakistan will continue its peace efforts with utmost sincerity and we hope to host the next round of talks very soon,” he added.

Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said a phone call led by US President Donald Trump with the leaders of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Qatar, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan marked “a significant step toward the shared goal of regional peace, stability and an early diplomatic outcome.” Dar praised Trump’s leadership along with his negotiating team, while expressing gratitude for the “constructive engagement of the Iranian leadership” in advancing the peace process.

Dar singled out Field Marshal Asim Munir, who he said “played a central role throughout this sensitive and momentous process” and represented Pakistan in Sunday’s discussions, and credited Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for his “visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to peace.” He also acknowledged regional partners, including Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, Egypt and Qatar, and said their support had “contributed significantly to this final result.”

Reaffirming Pakistan’s position, Dar said the country “remains firmly committed to supporting all sincere efforts aimed at lasting peace, mutual respect and regional stability”, adding that “dialogue and diplomacy must prevail over conflict and confrontation for the collective prosperity and security of our region and beyond.”

Meanwhile, Trump posted on social media that the emerging deal would reopen the strait, the vital sea passage, whose closure has upended global energy markets since the United States and Israel launched war against Iran in February.

He did not say what else would be included in the deal.

“The final aspects and details of the agreement are currently being discussed and will be announced shortly,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Photo: realDonaldTrump/SOCIAL TRUTH

However, the Iranian news agency far reported early Sunday that the deal would allow Iran to manage the strait and that Trump’s claim about the strait was “inconsistent with reality.”

ceasefire agreement

The United States and Iran are close to signing a 60-day ceasefire extension that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz, allowing Iran to resume oil sales and creating a window for negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear program, according to a US official familiar with the draft agreement. axios reported.

The proposed deal, which has not yet been finalized, could be announced as early as Sunday.

However, officials warned that the deal could still collapse before it is signed.

Read: Iran deal ‘largely negotiated’: Trump

Under the draft memorandum of understanding, Iran would clear mines from the Strait of Hormuz and allow ships to pass through without tolls, according to axios.

In exchange, Washington would lift its blockade of Iranian ports and issue limited sanctions waivers that would allow Tehran to sell oil freely for a period of 60 days.

A U.S. official described the deal as “performance relief,” saying economic relief would follow concrete Iranian actions rather than being granted in advance.

The draft also includes Iranian commitments not to pursue nuclear weapons and to negotiate the suspension of uranium enrichment and the elimination of its stockpile of highly enriched uranium.

Any broader sanctions relief or unfreezing of Iranian funds would be discussed during the ceasefire period, but would only be implemented as part of a verified final agreement.

Additionally, US forces deployed in the region would remain in place during the 60-day period and would withdraw only if a final agreement is reached.

Read more: Iran says US ‘betrayals, contradictions and excessive demands’ disrupting talks

The agreement also appears linked to efforts to end the war between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly expressed concerns about that condition in a phone call with Trump on Saturday.

A US official said Israel would still be allowed to act if Hezbollah tried to rearm or resume attacks.

Several Arab and Muslim leaders, including officials from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, Turkey, Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates, have backed the diplomatic effort.

Pakistan has played a central mediation role, with Field Marshal Asim Munir traveling to Tehran in a bid to help finalize the deal.

White House expects remaining issues to be resolved within hours

But U.S. officials said the ceasefire could end early if Washington concludes that Iran is not serious about nuclear negotiations.