Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Saturday that a peace deal between the United States and Iran could be finalized "in the next 24 hours," according to posts on social media platform X. The announcement came as Iranian officials pushed back against the accelerated timeline, adding uncertainty to negotiations aimed at ending more than 100 days of hostilities.
Sharif wrote that Pakistan is preparing for an electronic signing of the peace deal immediately after finalization, followed by technical-level talks next week.
"With finalisation likely expected in the next 24 hours, Pakistan is preparing for the electronic signing of the peace deal immediately after, followed by technical level talks next week," he wrote. "We are confident that this historic peace deal will form a strong foundation for lasting peace."
President Trump reposted Sharif's statement on Truth Social without additional comment.
What the Right Is Saying
Conservative critics remain skeptical of Iranian intentions and have questioned whether Tehran will follow through on commitments made during negotiations. Republican lawmakers who opposed the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action argue that previous diplomatic agreements with Iran ultimately failed because verification mechanisms proved insufficient.
Senator Tom Cotton and other hawkish Republicans have argued that maximum pressure campaigns, rather than concessions, are necessary to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Supporters of a harder line contend that any deal allowing Iran to retain civilian nuclear infrastructure creates pathways for weapons development.
National security hawks have also raised concerns about the reported $300 billion reconstruction fund mentioned in earlier leaked details of the agreement framework—reports that both the Trump administration and Iranian officials have since disputed as inaccurate.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive Democrats and foreign policy experts who have advocated for diplomatic engagement with Iran welcomed Pakistan's announcement as evidence of meaningful progress. Supporters argue that sustained multilateral negotiations, rather than military threats, offer the best path to resolving tensions with Tehran over its nuclear program and reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
Senator Chris Murphy, a longtime advocate for diplomatic solutions in the Middle East, has previously argued that economic pressure alone cannot force Iran to capitulate on nuclear demands. Advocates note that Qatar's expression of support for Pakistani mediation efforts demonstrates regional backing for continued dialogue.
Progressive advocacy groups have called for any final agreement to include verifiable mechanisms preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon while providing pathways for sanctions relief tied to compliance milestones rather than predetermined timelines.
What the Numbers Show
A U.S. official told The Hill's broadcast partner, NewsNation, on Friday that the deal was approximately 75 percent complete before Saturday's developments.
The proposed agreement would prohibit Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping channel whose effective closure over the past 100 days has significantly impacted both Iranian oil exports and global energy markets.
Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani expressed support for the Pakistani mediation efforts in a phone call with Sharif on Saturday, according to a readout from Qatar's foreign ministry. "His Excellency reiterated the State of Qatar's full support for the Pakistani mediation efforts aimed at ending the crisis through peaceful means," the statement said.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Friday that a deal "has never been closer" and urged media to avoid sharing leaked details about the agreement framework following outcries from the Trump administration about incorrect reports regarding financial compensation provisions.
The Bottom Line
The conflicting signals from Washington and Tehran highlight ongoing uncertainty despite optimistic projections from Pakistan's prime minister. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei told Iran's Tasnim News Agency that a signing of the framework deal will "not be tomorrow," adding that while the possibility of an agreement in coming days is not ruled out, Iran must remain cautious due to what he described as "the other party's instability."
Trump called Araghchi's Friday post about the deal being close "very positive" in a phone call with Axios reporter Barak Ravid. The president also reposted Araghchi's message on Truth Social.
What happens next: Pakistan has positioned itself as the primary mediator throughout these negotiations, while Qatar has signaled its support for the effort. The discrepancy between Pakistani optimism and Iranian caution will likely determine whether finalization occurs within the timeframe Sharif described or faces further delays as both sides work to align their positions.