WASHINGTON/TEHRAN, 14 June (HS): Efforts to secure a peace agreement between the United States and Iran appeared to gather momentum on Saturday, with U.S. President Donald Trump expressing confidence that a deal could be finalized soon. However, Iranian officials signaled that key issues remain unresolved and cautioned against expectations of an immediate breakthrough.

In a statement posted on social media on Saturday, President Trump said an agreement with Iran was scheduled to be signed on Sunday and suggested that the strategic Strait of Hormuz would subsequently be reopened for unrestricted maritime traffic. The waterway, one of the world's most important energy shipping routes, has been at the center of regional tensions for months.

Iran, however, struck a more measured tone. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on Saturday that while negotiations were progressing, a formal signing was unlikely to take place on Sunday. He noted that an agreement could still be reached in the coming days but stressed that uncertainty surrounding the other side's position required caution.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also indicated that the two sides had moved closer to an understanding than at any previous stage of negotiations. Nevertheless, he emphasized that discussions were still ongoing and that final details remained subject to change before any formal accord could be announced.

Pakistan, which has played a mediation role in recent diplomatic efforts, expressed optimism about the talks. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said a final draft text had been agreed upon and that preparations were underway for an electronic signing process, potentially followed by technical-level discussions next week. Pakistani officials described the negotiations as being in their final phase.

Diplomatic support for the process has emerged from several regional countries. Officials in Qatar, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia welcomed reports of progress and voiced hope that an agreement would contribute to long-term stability across the Middle East. Senior Gulf leaders held consultations on Saturday and reiterated their backing for dialogue as the preferred path to resolving outstanding disputes.

The proposed agreement is expected to address several contentious issues, including maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz, sanctions-related concerns and aspects of Iran's nuclear programme. Reports suggest the framework could include a temporary implementation period during which additional negotiations would be held on technical and security matters.

Despite the diplomatic momentum, tensions remain high across the region. Iran and the United States continue to exchange accusations over recent incidents involving commercial shipping near Oman and the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran has rejected allegations linking it to attacks on vessels in the area, while also insisting that any future arrangement must respect Iran's security interests and sovereign rights.

Meanwhile, conflict-related violence has continued elsewhere in the region. Military activity involving Israel and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon persisted on Saturday, underscoring the broader instability that negotiators hope to address through a wider diplomatic settlement.

The latest developments come ahead of the Group of Seven (G7) summit in France, where regional security and the future of U.S.-Iran relations are expected to feature prominently in discussions among world leaders.

While both Washington and Tehran have acknowledged significant progress, officials on both sides indicated that final approval has yet to be secured, leaving the timing of any formal agreement uncertain despite growing international expectations.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar