Trump Says Preliminary U.S.-Iran Framework Could Be Signed Tomorrow

U.S. President Donald Trump said Saturday evening that a preliminary understanding between Washington and Tehran could be signed as soon as Sunday, opening formal renewed talks over Iran’s nuclear program and extending the ceasefire between the sides for another 60 days. He stressed that this would only be a memorandum of understanding, not a final nuclear deal, but said it would lay the groundwork for a broader agreement later.

Under the reported outline, Iran would reopen the Strait of Hormuz to international shipping, while the United States would lift the blockade it imposed on Iranian ports during the latest escalation. Pakistan, which is mediating between the sides, said before Trump’s announcement that a “digital” signing ceremony was expected Sunday, with both sides confirming the understandings online. Tehran has not formally confirmed the signing date, saying only that a deal could be reached “in the coming days.”

CNN reported that figures linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards expressed reservations and said there was no certainty the signing would happen Sunday. A Telegram channel associated with the group criticized Trump’s push to finalize the deal now, hinting that the timing was tied to his 80th birthday, which is also Sunday.

According to the reports, the memorandum will be very short, under two pages, and will focus mainly on extending the calm and setting terms for future negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program and oversight. Trump described the move as a major achievement, saying it differs completely from the 2015 nuclear deal reached under Barack Obama, which he quit in 2018 with encouragement from Benjamin Netanyahu. He said the U.S. will not give Iran any money under the framework and later will move to collect and destroy the enriched uranium now held at Iranian nuclear facilities. On Truth Social, Trump wrote, “Everything needs to work out quickly and smoothly,” adding, “If there is no quick solution, we have the ultimate option, and I hope we do not need to use it again.”

Western estimates put Iran’s current stockpile at about 440 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60 percent, close to weapons-grade. Some of that material is reportedly stored in underground facilities damaged during the last confrontation between Israel and Iran about a year ago.