The United States and Iran appeared to move closer to a framework agreement aimed at ending more than 100 days of conflict, with U.S. President Donald Trump and Pakistani officials forecasting a signing on Sunday, while Tehran cast doubt on the timeline and said further reviews were still underway.
Qatari negotiators traveled to Tehran on Sunday as part of efforts to finalize the agreement, according to a source familiar with the talks.
Trump said the deal was scheduled to be signed on Sunday, while Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said preparations were underway for an electronic signing followed by technical-level discussions next week.
However, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said the agreement would not be signed on Sunday, though he did not rule out a signing in the coming days.
Iran's Fars news agency also reported that Tehran had not yet made a final decision on the proposed framework agreement.
The proposed memorandum of understanding would serve as the first stage of a broader peace process and extend the current ceasefire for another 60 days while negotiations continue on more contentious issues.
According to draft terms described by sources familiar with the discussions, the United States would begin releasing frozen Iranian assets and ease restrictions on Iranian oil exports, while Iran would reopen the Strait of Hormuz and maintain the current status of its nuclear program until a final agreement is reached.
A senior Iranian official said Tehran would refrain from uranium enrichment expansion and the construction of new nuclear facilities during the negotiation period.
The agreement would also seek to halt hostilities across multiple fronts, including Lebanon, where fighting has remained a significant point of contention.
Despite diplomatic progress, military tensions continued over the weekend.
The U.S. military said it intercepted multiple Iranian drones near the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday.
Israel also announced strikes on Hezbollah-linked targets in Beirut's southern suburbs after reporting projectile launches toward northern Israel.
The continued exchanges underscored the fragility of the negotiations and the challenges facing efforts to secure a broader regional ceasefire.
While both sides have signaled optimism about a preliminary agreement, major disputes remain unresolved.
The future of Iran's nuclear program is expected to be addressed during a 60-day negotiation period following any framework signing.
Trump has said the agreement would prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and eventually lead to the dismantling of its nuclear capabilities.
Iran has maintained that its nuclear program is intended for peaceful civilian purposes and has argued that any limitations must be accompanied by sanctions relief.
Differences also persist over the handling of Iran's enriched uranium stockpile, the release of frozen assets and the sequencing of sanctions removal.
The Strait of Hormuz remains another central issue.
Trump said the waterway would immediately be "open to all" once an agreement is signed, while U.S. officials indicated the naval blockade of Iranian ports would be lifted as part of the arrangement.
Iran, however, continues to view the strait as a key source of leverage and has suggested it may seek compensation mechanisms for vessels transiting the route.
Meanwhile, opposition to the agreement surfaced inside Iran, where hardline demonstrators at pro-government rallies criticized the proposed framework and expressed dissatisfaction with ongoing negotiations.
As diplomats continue discussions, uncertainty remains over both the timing of a signing and the details of a final settlement, even as both sides indicate that an agreement may be closer than at any point since the conflict began.