The United States and Iran are on the verge of signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to establish a 60-day ceasefire, halting the conflict that began in February 2026. U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that a deal between Iran and the U.S. would be signed on Sunday, after which the Strait of Hormuz would reopen immediately. Trump warned that, "If it doesn't, we have the ultimate alternative, hopefully never to be used again."
Hardliners in Tehran demonstrated on Saturday to protest against the deal, calling on Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to resign for making excessive concessions to Washington allegedly without the Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei’s approval. Iranian state media have denied that a signing will take place in the next 24 hours.
Israeli forces and Hezbollah continue to trade strikes in southern Lebanon, adding further complexity to negotiations with Iran. Military officials in Tehran say that Lebanon and Gaza must be included in the final agreement. While Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated, “Israel will not withdraw from the security zones in Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza. The IDF will continue to defend our borders and our citizens."
A memorandum of understanding appears near completion. However, approvals are still needed on both sides, and past rounds have seen repeated claims of being close without a breakthrough. Iranian Foreign Ministry officials urged caution, stating that while a deal is closer than ever, the final signing may take place in the coming days.
