Key facts
- US President Donald Trump announced a deal with Iran to be signed Sunday.
- The deal aims to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and involve the removal and destruction of Iran's nuclear material.
- Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson stated the deal would not be signed Sunday but possibly in 'coming days'.
- UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed support for a durable peace and freedom of navigation.
- Tensions in Lebanon and demands for sanctions relief pose potential obstacles to the deal.
- An Israeli air attack killed two people in Khan Younis, Gaza.
US President Donald Trump announced that a deal with Iran is set to be signed on Sunday, which he stated would immediately reopen the Strait of Hormuz to all vessels and involve the US securing and destroying Iran's nuclear material.
However, Trump's announcement appears to conflict with statements from Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmaeil Baghaei, who indicated the document would not be signed on Sunday but rather in the 'coming days.'
Despite the potential agreement, tensions remain high. Hezbollah claimed responsibility for targeting Israeli command centers amidst ongoing Israeli strikes in Lebanon. The Israeli military reported killing seven Hezbollah fighters in southern Lebanon over the past week, while Lebanon's Health Ministry stated that at least 3,756 people have been killed across the country since March 2.
In Gaza, an Israeli air attack in Khan Younis killed two people, and four Palestinians were wounded by Israeli gunfire in Gaza City. Meanwhile, Israeli forces conducted raids in the occupied West Bank, with some Palestinians suffering from tear gas inhalation.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke with President Trump, emphasizing the importance of a durable peace and the restoration of freedom of navigation. He reiterated the UK's readiness to support the implementation of any peace agreement.
Professor Foad Azadi of the University of Tehran suggested that Iranian officials might be delaying the signing to avoid giving Trump a 'birthday gift,' given his alleged 'serious war crimes.' Azadi also expressed skepticism about future friendships between the US, Iran, and Israel as long as Palestinian land remains occupied and leaders are perceived as 'genocidal.'
Tehran is also marking the first anniversary of a recent 12-day war between Iran and Israel, commemorating fallen commanders.