US and Iran reach deal text to end war, reopen Strait of Hormuz

Sharif, a key mediator in the talks, confirmed that a final, agreed-upon text has been reached and that Pakistan is working with both sides to finalize the next steps, despite what he called an "incessant misinformation campaign" by those seeking to sabotage the deal.

Earlier, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posted on X that the end of the war "had never been closer," a sentiment echoed by President Donald Trump who shared a screenshot of the post on his Truth Social account.

However, publicly, negotiating positions remain far apart, with both Iranian and US negotiators accusing each other of acting in bad faith. Trump described Iranians as "very dishonourable people to deal with," while Iran accused the US of repeatedly betraying the diplomatic process and likened the negotiations to a game of "snakes and ladders."

In an analysis, The New York Times reported that while the agreement has been broadly welcomed internationally, governments remain cautious about its long-term prospects. Many world leaders view the accord as an important step towards reducing tensions rather than a definitive resolution, with fundamental disputes deferred to future negotiations. The report noted that the agreement has succeeded in halting direct military escalation and creating an opportunity for dialogue, but has yet to resolve key issues such as Iran's nuclear program and the future security balance in the Middle East.