Iran war: Pakistan PM says peace deal expected in 24 hours

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz ​Sharif said that the United States and ​Iran have ​agreed to a framework ⁠for a ​peace deal, with the final text of the agreement reached.

Pakistan is now preparing for an electronic ​signing ​expected ⁠within the next 24 ​hours followed by ​technical-level ⁠talks next week, Sharif added. 

The proposed agreement would reportedly lead to an extension of the April 7 ceasefire by 60 days, during which the Strait of Hormuz would gradually reopen.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Friday that terms dealing with Iran's nuclear program would be finalized in the 60 days after the initial agreement is signed. He said the parties could agree to extend that period.

The foreign ministers of Pakistan and Switzerland expressed hopes of a breakthrough in peace negotiations to end the US war with Iran during a Saturday phone call, according to Islamabad's Foreign Ministry. 

Though no further details were offered, the sides said they hoped the effort would contribute to regional peace and stability.

Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis reportedly agreed to maintain close contact ahead of talks expected to take place prior to an upcoming G7 summit in nearby Evian, France, from June 15-17.

The US military said early Saturday that its forces had downed several Iranian drones as the US and Iran spoke of a potential breakthrough in peace talks between the warring sides.

In a social media post, US Central Command or CENTCOM, wrote: "Iran launched multiple one-way attack drones in an attempt to strike commercial ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. forces have downed all of them in recent hours as traffic flow through the strait continues unimpeded. The international trade corridor remains open for transit."

The incident is the latest in the strait and comes days after Iran shot down a US military helicopter on Tuesday. US President Trump had threatened severe retaliatory attacks but later announced that he had called off the harshest of them in hopes of striking a deal to end the four-month war. 

Officials in the United States and Iran have said that a ceasefire and a memorandum of understanding between the warring sides could be signed within the next couple of days. 

On Friday, US President Donald Trump said a deal could be signed "in Europe" on Sunday but that he could not attend — presumably due to the fact that he will host a mixed martial arts fight event on the lawn of the White House to coincide with his birthday. 

For those keeping track, this is roughly the fortieth time that Trump has claimed that a peace deal is imminent since the start of the war.

Still, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Friday posted on X: "The Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding has never been closer," raising hopes that a break in the fighting may indeed be near.

Iran's Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) on Friday cited an Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson as saying a draft is "nearly finalized and awaiting a final decision from Iran's decision-making bodies."

In Tehran, any agreement would have to be approved by Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, who has been in hiding since the start of the conflict.

Sources in Tehran have said that a ceasefire, which would be followed by further detailed negotiations, would involve the release of as much as $24 billion (€21 billion) in frozen Iranian assets as well as sanctions relief and the withdrawal of nearby US troops in exchange for Iran lifting its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran has blocked the strait since the US and Israel launched their war on February 28, putting a stranglehold on the global economy.

Tehran has insisted on getting cash up front before opening the strait as they doubt Trump's good faith in upholding the US end of the agreement, especially considering his history of railing against unfreezing Iranian assets.

Trump in turn blasted Iranian media reports on the terms of the deal in a social media post late Friday, writing: "The terms that Iran leaked out to the Fake News have NOTHING to do with the terms that were agreed to, in writing. What they said, including their weak and pathetic statement on having a deal, bears no relation to the truth."

Good morning from the DW newsroom in Bonn as we start today's coverage of the war in Iran with potentially hopeful news. 

Both the US and Iran have publicly voiced optimism that a break in fighting could be on the horizon despite a clear continuation of the conflict overnight, with US forces claiming to have downed Iranian drones in the Strait of Hormuz.

Both sides have now hinted that a ceasefire and a memorandum of understanding (MoU) are close at hand, with US President Donald Trump suggesting that a deal could be inked as soon as Sunday, likely in Geneva, Switzerland.

Despite that, it should be noted that this is reportedly the fortieth time that Trump has made such claims since the US and Israel launched their war. Several major sticking points between the sides remain as well — including cash, sanctions, nukes and Israel's ongoing war with Hezbollah in Lebanon. 

Follow DW for the latest developments on June 13, 2026, here.