WASHINGTON, June 14: US President Donald Trump has said an agreement aimed at ending hostilities between the United States and Iran is scheduled to be signed on Sunday, though Iranian officials have expressed uncertainty about the timing, BBC reported
According to BBC, Trump announced on social media that the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most important shipping routes, would be reopened to all traffic immediately after the agreement is signed.
Pakistan, which has played a key mediating role, said the deal could be finalized within the next 24 hours and preparations were underway for an electronic signing ceremony.
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BBC reported that Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei urged caution over expectations of an immediate breakthrough, saying the exact date of signing remained unclear and that it would not happen "tomorrow."
In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote that the agreement was scheduled to be signed the next day and that the Strait of Hormuz would reopen to all vessels once it takes effect.
According to BBC, Trump also referred to Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium, saying that "when all is calm" the United States would move to secure what he called "the Nuclear Dust" before ultimately destroying it.
Iran has long denied Western allegations that it is seeking to build nuclear weapons, insisting that its nuclear program is intended for peaceful purposes, including electricity generation and scientific research.
BBC reported that Trump warned Washington retained "the ultimate alternative" if the process failed to proceed quickly and smoothly, though he said he hoped such measures would never be required.
Earlier Saturday, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the parties were closer to a peace agreement than at any previous stage.
According to BBC, Sharif said Pakistan was preparing for the electronic signing of the accord, with technical level talks expected to follow next week if the deal is finalized.
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said Friday that an agreement with Washington appeared close. He said the proposed arrangement would include reopening the Strait of Hormuz and ending the US blockade of Iranian ports.
BBC reported that Araghchi also said negotiations on Iran's nuclear program would begin at a later stage, while US officials indicated that economic benefits for Iran would depend on Tehran fulfilling its commitments.
Some earlier reports suggested Lebanon might not be included in the agreement, although Iran has reportedly pushed for provisions addressing the conflict involving Israel and Hezbollah.
According to BBC, several versions of a potential deal have surfaced in recent months but failed to reach completion during the final stages of negotiations.
The conflict began after US and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28, triggering Iranian attacks against Israel and US-allied states in the Gulf and effectively shutting down the Strait of Hormuz.
BBC reported that despite a ceasefire reached in April, intermittent exchanges of fire have continued between the US and Iran, including two rounds of retaliatory strikes earlier this week.
