US-Iran peace deal reached, signing set for June 19 in Switzerland: Shehbaz Sharif

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday announced that the United States and Iran have reached a peace agreement after months of negotiations with the formal signing ceremony scheduled to take place in Switzerland on June 19The announcement marks a significant diplomatic development after a prolonged period of tensions and military confrontation between Washington and Tehran However details of the agreement have not yet been made public and officials from both countries have indicated that implementation will begin only after the accord is formally signedSharif announces agreement after intensive talksIn a post on social media platform X Sharif said the peace deal had been finalised following extensive discussions between the two sidesHe stated that both countries had agreed to an immediate and permanent end to military operations and said the formal signing ceremony would be held in Switzerland later this week Sharif also thanked the governments involved in facilitating the negotiations and acknowledged the role played by regional mediatorsThe Pakistani prime minister credited Qatar Saudi Arabia and Turkiye for supporting diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving the conflict and creating conditions for a negotiated settlementTrump confirms breakthrough markets react positivelyUS President Donald Trump also confirmed that an agreement had been reached describing it as a major breakthrough in efforts to end the conflict between the two countries Trump announced the development on his Truth Social platform and indicated that the agreement would pave the way for restoring maritime movement through the strategically important Strait of HormuzThe announcement provided relief to global energy markets which have been closely monitoring developments in the Gulf region because of concerns over oil supplies and shipping routes Reports indicated that oil prices eased following news of the agreementIran confirms deal but awaits formal signingIranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi confirmed that an agreement had been reached but said implementation would begin only after the official signing ceremonyAccording to officials the accord currently takes the form of a memorandum of understanding while further negotiations are expected on unresolved issues including aspects of Irans nuclear programme and other longterm security concernsSeveral reports suggest that technical discussions and preimplementation meetings will be held before the June 19 ceremony to establish mechanisms for carrying out the agreementQuestions remain over key provisionsWhile both sides have publicly welcomed the agreement important details remain unclearInternational media reports indicate that issues such as the future of Irans nuclear programme sanctions relief access to the Strait of Hormuz and security arrangements in the wider region are expected to be addressed through additional negotiations after the agreement is signedThere has also been uncertainty regarding provisions related to Lebanon with differing interpretations emerging from various stakeholders involved in the negotiationsPakistan highlights mediation rolePakistan has played a prominent role in facilitating contacts between Washington and Tehran during the negotiation process Sharif said mediators would continue consultations in the coming days to prepare for the agreements implementationFormer Pakistan foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari welcomed the development and described it as an important step toward reducing regional tensions through dialogue and diplomacy He also acknowledged the contributions of diplomats and officials involved in the negotiationsThe agreement follows months of mediation efforts involving Pakistan and other regional partners If formally signed and implemented as planned it could represent a significant step toward easing tensions in the Middle East and restoring stability to one of the worlds most strategically important regionsWith inputs from PTI