PM Shehbaz says US, Iran have signed deal electronically; Iran to 'instantly' reopen Hormuz, US to 'immediately' lift blockade
AI Summary
President Trump's administration has negotiated a tentative agreement with Iran to end military conflict that began with U.S.-Israel airstrikes in February 2026, with formal signing scheduled for Friday. The deal reportedly grants Iran significant economic concessions while maintaining open shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, though Trump has stated the agreement remains preliminary and subject to revision if he deems it unsatisfactory.
Progressive: Progressive outlets express concern that major economic concessions to Iran reward an autocratic regime with a documented history of repression, while questioning whether the agreement genuinely resolves underlying tensions or represents broken promises to Iranians seeking change.
Moderate: Centrist sources focus on discrepancies between White House claims of achieved military objectives and observable reality, while reporting Trump's own ambivalence about the agreement's finality.
Conservative: Conservative outlets frame the deal as strategic appeasement that fails to meet Trump's stated original objectives—destroying Iran's ballistic missile capabilities and preventing nuclear weapons development—with critics warning against naïveté about Iran's adversarial nature.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said early on Thursday that the ‘Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding’ (MoU) between the United States and Iran had been signed electronically by both sides.
“The memorandum has been signed by honourable presidents of both the countries and also endorsed by me as the mediator. The signing of this agreement at the highest level of the respective governments demonstrates the commitment of both sides to a diplomatic resolution of the conflict,” he said in a post on the social media platform X.
He added that the MoU shall “enter into force with immediate effect and as a first step, Islamic Republic of Iran will instantly reopen the Strait of Hormuz and the United States of America will immediately lift the naval blockade”.
US President Donald Trump put his signature to the memorandum of understanding during a candlelit dinner at the Palace of Versailles following a G7 summit, as host French President Emmanuel Macron and other guests applauded, a video posted by a Trump aide showed.
“Just signed it,” Trump told reporters as he emerged from the palace.
Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei, quoted by the state news agency IRNA, said the document “was finalised with the signatures of the presidents”.
In his post on X, PM Shehbaz offered his congratulations to Trump, saying his “steadfast commitment to diplomacy and preference for peaceful resolution have once again helped end a conflict that could have led to devastating consequences for the region and beyond”. He also commended the dedication and efforts of the US team, including Vice President JD Vance, special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner for their “invaluable contributions to this achievement”.
PM Shehbaz also expressed his respect and appreciation for Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian for their “wisdom, foresight and statesmanship in embracing the cause of peace”.
“I also wish to recognise the efforts of the Iranian negotiating team, including Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Abbas Araghchi and Eskandar Momeni, whose patience, perseverance and commitment to constructive engagement were instrumental in bringing this agreement to fruition,” he added.
PM Shehbaz also acknowledged the efforts and engagement of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Egypt. He also made special mention of Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir, saying his “tireless efforts, selfless dedication and instrumental role were critical in facilitating this breakthrough and advancing the cause of peace and regional stability”.
“May this memorandum of understanding serve as an enduring foundation for greater understanding, mutual respect and shared prosperity for the complete region,” he said.
Additional input from APP ...
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