US-Iran deal: Pakistan signals 24-hour breakthrough as Trump, Iran differ

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UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has expressed support for efforts toward a potential Iran deal during a phone call with US President Donald Trump.

Starmer stressed the importance of ensuring that any agreement delivers a “durable and lasting peace”, according to Downing Street.

His office said the UK is ready to support the implementation of any peace deal and work with international partners to ensure its success.

Both leaders agreed on the need to restore freedom of navigation, aimed at easing global economic pressures linked to disrupted maritime routes.

The statement added that Starmer and Trump will remain in close contact as negotiations progress.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has denied that any agreement with the United States will be signed on Sunday, pushing back against comments from US President Donald Trump.

The IRGC said the proposed timeline amounts to a “test for Iran’s negotiating team”, stressing that Iranian officials have already made clear the memorandum has not been finalised and that a Sunday signing “is definitely not happening”.

In a statement posted on Telegram, the group criticised what it called Trump’s “unusual insistence” on the timing, suggesting the announcement appears to ignore ongoing negotiations.

The IRGC also claimed some observers believe the proposed date may be linked to Trump’s birthday on June 14, suggesting it could be intended as a symbolic or publicity-driven moment rather than a diplomatic milestone.

An Indian national, Nishanth Uirthanathan, has died due to medical complications onboard the MT Celestial at Duqm Port in Oman, the Indian Embassy in Muscat said.

The embassy said it is in contact with the ship management company and coordinating with relevant authorities for necessary formalities.

Arrangements are underway for the early repatriation of the mortal remains to India, with condolences extended to the bereaved family.

President Donald Trump said the United States would find and destroy Iran's enriched uranium when the region is calmer, as he announced that a deal to end the war would be signed on Sunday.

"When all is calm, we will go in and get the Nuclear Dust, buried deep under the powerful sunken granite mountains, thanks to our beautiful B-2 Bombers and their brilliant pilots, and downblend and destroy it, whether in Iran, or the United States," he said on social media Saturday.

US President Donald Trump has said a new Iran agreement is close to being signed, calling it a “wall to no nuclear weapon” and insisting Tehran will be blocked from acquiring nuclear arms under any route.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump criticised the 2015 JCPOA under Barack Obama, saying it left Iran on an “easy road” to nuclear capability.

He claimed the upcoming deal would involve no financial payments and said the Strait of Hormuz would reopen immediately after signing.

Trump also suggested that any remaining nuclear infrastructure could be targeted later, while expressing optimism about future US-Iran relations and wider Middle East cooperation.

Iran has said there are currently no plans for its negotiating team to travel to Geneva or Islamabad in the next day or two to sign an agreement, according to foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei.

Baghaei said, however, that the likelihood of a memorandum of understanding being signed in the coming days remains high, as reported by Iran’s IRNA news agency.

“We must wait for the exact time of the signing,” he said, adding that the timing is still under discussion despite continued diplomatic momentum.

Trump to discuss Strait of Hormuz demining efforts with allies at next week's G7 as confidence grows for Iran war deal.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said he held a “warm and cordial” phone conversation with Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani.

In a post on X, Sharif expressed appreciation for Qatar’s support for Pakistan’s peace efforts during the Gulf crisis.

The two leaders also discussed the latest developments related to a “landmark peace deal”.

Sharif said he remains hopeful that the initiative will help lay the foundation for lasting peace and stability across the region.

Iran's foreign ministry said Saturday that an expected memorandum with the United States to end hostilities would not be signed on Sunday, state media reported.

"We have to wait and see about the exact time of signing; although it will not be tomorrow," ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said, according to the IRNA news agency.

"The possibility of this happening in the coming days cannot be ruled out," he added, after mediator Pakistan said Iran and the United States could finalise the deal within 24 hours.

Ayatollah Mohsen Araki, a senior member of Iran’s Assembly of Experts Leadership Council, has cautioned Iranian officials involved in negotiations with the US to strictly adhere to the Supreme Leader’s directives and red lines.

In an interview with the semi-state Tasnim news agency, he said Iran must project strength during talks.

“We must demonstrate our power to them; otherwise, they will not agree to our conditions through these talks,” he said.

Araki added that progress would only come by operating within the framework set by the Supreme Leader.

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi met Russian and Chinese ambassadors in Tehran on Saturday to discuss “the latest developments” surrounding a tentative US proposal, according to local media cited by CNN.

In a joint meeting, the three sides exchanged views on a draft memorandum of understanding linked to discussions in Islamabad, the semi-official Iranian Students’ News Agency (ISNA) reported, quoting Gharibabadi.

He also said the strategic partnership between Iran, China and Russia would continue “strongly,” with coordination among the three countries ongoing.

The meetings come as US, Iranian and Pakistani officials have recently referenced a proposed memorandum of understanding between Tehran and Washington, though details have not been made public.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) has reported that a tanker was struck by an unknown projectile in the port bow, around six nautical miles (11km) east of Oman.

In a post on X, UKMTO said the crew is safe and no environmental impact has been reported.

The tanker is continuing towards its next port of call as authorities investigate the incident.

Vessels have been advised to exercise caution and report any suspicious activity to UKMTO.

Israel’s military has activated air raid sirens in northern areas following reports of a hostile aircraft intrusion in the Margaliot region.

Officials said the incident is under review, with further details yet to be confirmed.

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, whose government has mediated between Iran and the United States to end their war, said on Saturday a peace deal would "likely" be finalised within 24 hours.

"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 said in a post on social media platform X.

Iran's former supreme leader Ali Khamenei, who ruled the country for nearly 37 years before being killed by Israeli and US airstrikes on February 28, will be buried on July 9, state television reported Saturday.

The burial in his hometown, the northeastern holy city of Mashhad, initially scheduled for March but postponed due to the war, will follow three days of funeral ceremonies in capital Tehran beginning July 4 and another in the holy city of Qom on July 7, it said.

July 4, the start date of the national funeral, will coincide with the United States' Independence Day, which this year celebrates its 250th anniversary.

Ali Khamenei's son, Mojtaba, succeeded him as supreme leader in early March, the third since the establishment of the Islamic republic in 1979.

Mojtaba Khamenei, wounded in the strikes that killed his father and numerous other officials, has not appeared in public since his appointment and communicates only through statements attributed to him.

The UAE will remain committed to safeguarding the security and stability of the Arabian Gulf, viewing both as essential foundations for shared prosperity in an increasingly complex geopolitical environment, Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the UAE President, said on Saturday.

In a post on X, Gargash said the UAE recognised that addressing emerging regional and international challenges required three key pillars: effective diplomacy, strong economic ties and a credible deterrence capability.

"At a more complex geostrategic stage, the UAE understands that dealing with future challenges requires three foundations: effective diplomacy, robust economic links and capable, credible deterrence," he wrote.

Gargash added that the UAE would continue to support efforts aimed at preserving the security and stability of the Arabian Gulf, stressing that regional stability remains a prerequisite for sustainable development and collective economic growth.

Iran has significantly stepped up efforts in recent weeks to secure its stockpile of near-weapons-grade uranium amid concerns that the United States could launch a military operation to seize the material, according to CNN.

The report, citing five US officials familiar with the matter, said Iranian authorities have deliberately collapsed access tunnels and placed explosive devices at entry points to underground facilities housing the uranium stockpile.

The measures have made access to nearly half a tonne of highly enriched uranium substantially more difficult, dangerous and time-consuming than it was a month ago, when US President Donald Trump publicly suggested he could order the military to take control of the material.

Trump has agreed to unfreeze $24 billion in Iranian assets while avoiding explicitly confirming this, a senior adviser to Iran's supreme leader Mohsen Rezaei said, according to the Fars News Agency.

According to the report, Rezaei said Iran's recent conflict "boosted" the country's standing globally, claiming the country's deterrence capacity had grown to a point where "Trump the gambler" now fears negotiating with Tehran.

India’s External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar on Saturday said he spoke to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to convey India's strong protest over US Navy attacks in the Gulf that killed three Indian mariners.

He described such actions against commercial shipping as unjustified.

In a post on X, EAM Jaishankar said, "Spoke to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio this evening. I reiterated India's strong protest at the attacks by the US Navy in the Gulf that killed three Indian mariners. Such lethal actions against commercial shipping are not justified."

His remark came after the death of three Indian sailors in a US military strike on a commercial tanker in the Gulf of Oman.

The vessel, MT Settebello, came under fire on Wednesday after US forces accused it of violating the ongoing naval blockade on Iranian ports. Of the 24 Indian crew members on board, 21 were rescued, while the three others were later confirmed deceased.

Lebanese state media reported Israeli strikes on the country's south on Saturday shortly after the Israeli army issued an evacuation warning for 20 locations including the city of Nabatieh ahead of raids there.

Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA) reported Israeli airstrikes in several areas covered by the evacuation warning, including the villages of Rihan and Sujud, located not far from Nabatieh.

Oil prices declined during Friday's trading session, reaching their lowest levels since early March. Brent crude futures fell by $3.05, or 3.37 per cent, at settlement to close at $87.33 per barrel. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude dropped by $2.83, or 3.23 per cent, to settle at $84.88 per barrel, its lowest level since 17th April.

Iranians are living between confusion and exhaustion as the country and its economy are squeezed between war and multiplying crises at home.

Strikes on steel and petrochemical industries and energy infrastructure earlier in the war have spurred a wave of business closures and job losses in Iran, where people now struggle to afford groceries in the face of triple-digit food inflation.

Along with the cratering economy, the spectre of war has left many people desperate for an end to the turmoil and deeply anxious about the future.

The war in Iran is driving up jet fuel prices and worsening supply strains for African airlines, forcing carriers to review routes and raising fresh concerns about the stability of the continent’s aviation network.

The African Airlines Association (AFRAA) says the crisis has exposed its heavy dependence on imported refined jet fuel, leaving airlines vulnerable to global shocks.

African carriers were already paying about 17% more for jet fuel than the global average before the Iran war, according to AFRAA. The new price pressures are adding to already thin margins across the sector.

“The impact is dire and a major shock for our members,” AFRAA Secretary-General Abderahmane Berthe told The Associated Press. “Fuel represents between 30% and 40% of airlines’ operating costs. Any increase directly affects their balance sheets.”

A senior Trump administration official said Iran has committed to never develop or procure nuclear weapons under a proposed agreement, while sanctions relief would be tied to strict verification and inspections.

Speaking about the negotiations, the official said the agreement enjoys support from regional partners, including Israel and Gulf countries.

"We feel quite confident that all of our allies- the Israelis and the Gulf coalition- will get on board. Obviously, that doesn't mean they give up the right to self-defence, and if Iranians don't honour their end of the obligation, I wouldn't expect the Israelis to not respond."

The official also said there is a "broad consensus" within Iran on the proposed deal.

According to the official, the agreement has been structured to ensure Iran receives benefits only after fulfilling its commitments.

"I do trust that we structured the deal in such a way where they don't get their benefits unless we get our benefits, and that's how we're going to walk down this pathway of a negotiated settlement."

On the specifics of the agreement, the official said Iran has committed to eliminating enriched nuclear material and decommissioning nuclear sites, although technical details remain under discussion.

The official said Tehran has committed indefinitely to not developing or procuring nuclear weapons and that benefits under the agreement would be delivered only after verification measures are satisfied.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said that upon finalisation, a draft deal with the US would be signed "remotely", which could happen "in the coming days."

"As soon as the final stages of our negotiations are completed, this agreement will be signed and announced. The signing will initially take place digitally. Each side will sign remotely. After that, it will be announced that this memorandum of understanding has been signed by both parties," said Araghchi in an interview with state television.

The United States said it downed multiple Iranian drones targeting commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz early Saturday, hours after both sides said a deal to end the Middle East war was closer than ever.

The interception came after weeks of halting talks between Tehran and Washington, mediated by Pakistan, that have been marked by threats and exchanges of fire despite a fragile truce agreed in April.

US Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees operations in the region, posted on X that Iran had "launched multiple one-way attack drones in an attempt to strike commercial ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz".

"US forces have downed all of them in recent hours as traffic flow through the strait continues unimpeded," it said.

CENTCOM added that the Strait of Hormuz - a key maritime trade route for oil and gas from the Gulf - "remains open for transit", despite an Iranian enforced blockade since the start of the war.

The UAE has categorically denied reports published by certain international media outlets alleging the transfer of funds from the UAE to the Islamic Republic of Iran, including allegations concerning $3 billion.

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirmed that these allegations are entirely false and unfounded, stressing that no frozen Iranian funds have been released, transferred, or facilitated through the UAE.

The Ministry also called on media outlets to exercise accuracy, rely on official sources, and refrain from publishing or circulating unverified information and unfounded allegations.

Pakistan's prime minister said the United States and Iran have agreed to wording of an agreement aimed at ending their war in the Middle East and that mediators were working with both sides to finalise a deal.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the US and Iran have reached a "final, agreed upon text." He said Pakistan, which has taken the lead in mediation efforts, was working with the warring countries on next steps.

"Peace has never been this close as it is now," Sharif said in a post on X.

The apparent breakthrough in negotiations comes after Iran exchanged fire with the US and Israel over three days this week, threatening to return the Middle East to full-scale war.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Friday an agreement "has never been closer" in a post on X. US President Donald Trump, who has said multiple times in recent weeks the countries are on the cusp of a deal, shared Araghchi's post on his own social media.

Araghchi told Iranian state TV on Friday that both sides were working toward signing an initial agreement declaring an end to the war "on all fronts, including Lebanon."

Araghchi said terms dealing with Iran's nuclear program would be finalised in the 60 days after the initial agreement is signed. He said the parties could agree to extend that period.

A senior US administration official, who briefed reporters on condition of anonymity under ground rules set by the White House, said Friday that the emerging agreement would begin the process of destroying or removing Tehran's highly enriched uranium.

The official said the 60-day period after both sides sign the deal would be used to work out technical details for removing Iran's enriched uranium. The official did not detail who the US envisions taking charge of removing the uranium, which is believed to entombed under three nuclear sites that were battered by US strikes last year.

The US official said the emerging agreement includes provisions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

Araghchi said Iran wants a deal that allows Tehran to charge ships "for services rendered" when they transit the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has imposed a toll system during the war, which the US and other nations say violates international law.

"There will be costs involved," Araghchi said, "and those costs must be paid."

US Central Command late Friday said in a social media post that it intercepted several Iranian attack drones that were targeting commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

Officials say a deal could be signed in the coming days

Three regional officials said the emerging deal is also expected to include the phased lifting of sanctions on Iran and the release of frozen Iranian assets. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the negotiations.

They said they expect a signing ceremony for the agreement in the coming days after officials in Washington and Tehran approve it.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel is not a party to the deal being negotiated. He said in a statement Friday that he and Trump were in "full agreement" that Iran must not have nuclear weapons.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a separate statement that Israel also expects Trump to uphold key Israeli interests, including weakening Iran's missile program and proxy network.

Katz warned that Israel could still act independently toward Iran and that the country would not pull out of the zones it is occupying in Lebanon, Syria and Gaza, nor would it withdraw from the northern refugee camps of the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

The deal was largely being brokered by Pakistan, led by its army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, the regional officials said, with backing from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt, and Qatar.

Day 105: Pakistan PM says US–Iran peace deal text agreed

Day 104: Trump touts Iran peace deal, to be signed in Europe

Day 103: Iran strikes Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan

Day 102: US Apache helicopter crashes near Strait of Hormuz

Day 101: Iran and Israel suspend strikes after Trump’s request