The peace deal between the US and Iran will not be signed on Sunday, Iran's foreign ministry said on Saturday, hours after Pakistan's prime minister declared a final text had been reached and that peace had never been closer.
“The possibility of signing the Islamabad memorandum in the coming days could not be ruled out,” foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei told state media, adding that caution was needed due to “the hesitation of the other side”.
“Iran says peace deal with US will not be signed Sunday as Israeli strikes hit Lebanon and drones downed.”
The announcement came as Israeli air strikes hit southern Lebanon after residents were ordered to leave about 20 locations, Lebanese state media reported. At least one person was killed in the town of Marrakeh in the Tyre district, according to the Lebanese National News Agency.
Fighting has continued in southern Lebanon since the war began with US and Israeli strikes across Iran on 28 February. The conflict prompted Iran to attack Israel and US-allied states in the Gulf and effectively close the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route for oil and liquefied natural gas.
On Friday, Iran’s foreign minister, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, said a deal to end fighting with the US was close and would also end the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon. The agreement, he said, includes reopening the Strait of Hormuz and lifting the US blockade of Iran. Talks on Iran’s nuclear programme would begin later, he added.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who is mediating the talks, wrote on X that his country “is preparing for the electronic signing of the peace deal… followed by technical level talks next week”. He said a final text had been reached.
But the situation remains precarious. The US military said it had shot down multiple Iranian attack drones overnight that were attempting to strike commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz. US President Donald Trump had earlier accused Tehran of leaking inaccurate details of the proposed deal, which he said “have nothing to do with the terms that were agreed to”.
A senior White House official said under the memorandum of understanding, the Strait of Hormuz would be reopened, the US would lift its blockade, and Iran’s highly enriched uranium would be destroyed on site and taken out of the country. Economic benefits for Iran would depend on Tehran meeting its obligations, US officials confirmed.
Meanwhile, Tehran announced the funeral of the late supreme leader Ali Khamenei would take place on 4 July, with burial on 9 July. Israeli defence minister Israel Katz warned on Friday that Israel could still act independently towards Iran and would not withdraw from zones it occupies in Lebanon, Syria, Gaza, or the West Bank.
Araghchi said there were “supporters and opponents” of the latest terms among Iran’s top security body. The deal’s finalisation, once expected within 24 hours, now hangs on the hesitation of both sides.