Peace deal with Iran to be signed on Sunday: Donald Trump

US President Donald Trump on Saturday announced that a peace agreement between the United States and Iran is expected to be signed on Sunday raising hopes of a diplomatic breakthrough after months of conflict military escalation and difficult negotiationsIn a post on his social media platform Truth Social Trump said the proposed agreement would pave the way for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz one of the worlds most strategically important maritime routes for global energy suppliesThe deal is scheduled to get signed tomorrow and immediately after it is signed the Hormuz Strait is open to all Trump saidTrump contrasts proposed deal with 2015 nuclear agreementThe US President described the proposed agreement as fundamentally different from the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action JCPOA which was negotiated during the administration of former President Barack ObamaAccording to Trump the new arrangement is designed to ensure that Iran does not acquire nuclear weapons under any circumstancesHe claimed that Tehran no longer seeks to develop or obtain nuclear weapons and said the agreement would create safeguards preventing any future nuclear weapons programmeTrump has repeatedly criticised the 2015 accord and withdrew the United States from the agreement during his earlier term in office arguing that it failed to adequately address concerns regarding Irans nuclear ambitionsClaims regarding Irans nuclear programmeIn his statement Trump asserted that Irans nuclear capabilities had been effectively neutralised and suggested that remaining nuclear material would be dealt with in the futureHe claimed that nuclearrelated material located deep underground would eventually be recovered and destroyed under international oversight once the security situation stabilisesThe remarks come after weeks of heightened tensions during which the United States carried out military strikes targeting Iranian facilities and infrastructureHowever independent verification of Trumps claims regarding the status of Irans nuclear programme has not yet been made publicWarning of military action remainsWhile expressing optimism about the proposed agreement Trump also reiterated that the United States remains prepared to use military force if negotiations failHe said Washington hoped for a peaceful outcome and looked forward to improved relations with Iran and other countries in the Middle EastAt the same time he warned that alternative measures remained available if diplomatic efforts were unsuccessful although he did not elaborate furtherThe comments reflect the administrations strategy of combining diplomatic engagement with military pressure throughout the negotiation processWeeks of conflict preceded breakthroughThe announcement follows a turbulent period marked by military exchanges and diplomatic effortsEarlier this week the United States launched multiple strikes against targets in Iran following escalating hostilities between the two countriesTensions had risen sharply after the reported downing of a US Apache helicopter prompting retaliatory military action by WashingtonTrump had also threatened further strikes against Iranian infrastructure including the countrys oil export facilities before ultimately stepping back from additional military actionPakistan PM hints at imminent agreementTrumps comments came shortly after Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif suggested that a peace agreement between the United States and Iran could be finalised within 24 hoursThe remarks fuelled speculation that negotiators had made significant progress after weeks of talks aimed at converting a fragile ceasefire into a broader peace settlementThe United States and Iran agreed to a ceasefire on April 8 after weeks of hostilities and have since been engaged in negotiations over a longterm agreementGlobal focus on Strait of HormuzA successful agreement would have major implications for global energy markets particularly if it results in the full reopening of the Strait of HormuzThe strategic waterway handles a significant share of the worlds oil and natural gas exports and disruptions caused by the conflict have contributed to volatility in energy prices and shipping routesAnalysts say a durable peace agreement could help stabilise regional security restore confidence in global energy markets and reduce concerns about a broader conflict in the Middle EastWhile Trumps announcement has raised expectations officials from Iran have not yet publicly confirmed that a final agreement is ready to be signed The coming days are expected to be critical in determining whether the proposed deal materialises and whether it succeeds in bringing a lasting end to the conflict