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The U.S. president doesn’t seem to be getting the cherry on top of his birthday cake. A source close to the Iranian negotiating team reports that the peace agreement will definitely not be signed by the deadline Donald Trump set.
The Israeli attacks on Beirut have severely tested an impending peace agreement. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf reacted furiously: “The violence against Beirut demonstrates once again that the United States has neither the will nor the capacity to fulfill its obligations,” he said. "You cannot force concessions if you give the Israeli regime the green light. The ‘good cop-bad cop’ principle is outdated. Continuing down this path is simply impossible."
Breakthrough thanks to Qatar?
Qatari negotiators flew to Tehran on Sunday to finalize the peace agreement between Iran and the United States, according to a source at Reuters. However, the Iranian news agency Fars emphasizes that Iran has not yet made a final decision on whether it will actually sign the agreement. on Saturday, both U.S. President Donald Trump and the Pakistani mediator indicated that a peace agreement could be signed within 24 hours. Tehran, however, stated that it would likely be “in the coming days.” The details of the agreement have not yet been officially released.
Agreement on the 80th anniversary?
The United States and Iran may be nearing a historic agreement that would end the fighting between the two countries. In Tehran, however, street protests against this impending peace deal are growing. The most vocal opponents are chanting “Death to the compromiser” and demanding the resignation of Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi.
On Saturday, U.S. President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social that the agreement with Iran would be signed on his 80th birthday, Sunday, June 14. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif confirmed that both parties have agreed on a framework and that Islamabad is preparing for an electronic signing on Sunday. Iran, however, did not confirm that timeline.
Strait of Hormuz wide open again?
Spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei of the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs cautioned against making statements about the exact timing and said it would not happen “tomorrow,” but possibly “in the coming days.”
According to Trump, the Strait of Hormuz would be “open to everyone” immediately after the signing. That sea route is crucial for the global oil supply and has been blocked by Iran. The proposal would also include the lifting of the U.S. naval blockade. The agreement would first focus on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, followed by talks on Iran’s nuclear program.
“Araqchi, shame on you, let go of America.”
Opposition from hardliners in Iran remains visible. Images of protesters in public squares and in front of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tehran have surfaced on social media and Iranian news sites. They directed their anger at Araqchi with slogans such as “Araqchi, shame on you, let go of America.” During pro-government rallies on Saturday evening, discontent was voiced; demonstrators chanted “Compromiser, resign.”
The Revolutionary Guard criticized Trump’s “unprecedented pressure” to sign an agreement on Sunday via Telegram. According to Tehran, Trump’s announcement came even though Iranian negotiators had made it clear that the memorandum had not yet been finalized. Trump suggested that there is a “last resort” should the process fail.
Protesters demand resignation of Iranian Foreign Minister
Iranian protesters in Mashhad demanded Araqchi’s resignation on Saturday evening. There is division within Iran over such a deal, with conservative circles in particular opposing potential concessions to Washington. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is convening his security cabinet in response to reports of the impending agreement, as the terms would jeopardize the country’s security interests.
The proposed agreement would release billions of dollars in frozen Iranian assets and temporarily lift sanctions on Iranian oil exports in exchange for the opening of the strait. Iran would charge fees for services in the Strait of Hormuz. The nuclear program would be discussed within sixty days, with the ultimate goal of dismantling it.
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