A deal will be signed on Sunday and the Strait of Hormuz will reopen amid ceasefire extension, says Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Israel strongly disagrees...
June 13, 2026
Source: The Financial Times and
The Times of Israel
Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced on Saturday that the US and Iran could electronically sign a deal to extend their ceasefire and reopen the crucial Strait of Hormuz within the next 24 hours, according to the Financial Times. President Trump stated that the deal with Iran is "scheduled to be signed tomorrow," and the Strait of Hormuz will be "open to all." Yet, Israeli officials have expressed concerns that the deal endangers Israel’s security, fails to address the war's key objectives, and undermines U.S. military leverage over the Iranian regime.
“We are closer to a peace deal than ever before,” Sharif posted on X. “With finalization expected imminently, Pakistan is ready for the electronic signing of the peace deal, followed by technical-level discussions next week.”
Pakistan and Qatar have been at the forefront of mediation efforts to extend the ceasefire, originally established on April 8, by an additional 60 days. The proposed deal would not only reopen the strategically significant Strait of Hormuz but also initiate discussions regarding Iran's nuclear program in hopes of establishing a long-term resolution to the hostilities.
Since February 28, the narrow waterway has been effectively blockaded by Iranian forces, following military actions initiated by the US and Israel, escalating tensions in the region. The agreement envisions Iranian forces clearing mines to facilitate maritime traffic, with no tolls imposed on vessels during the stipulated 60-day period, a departure from prior arrangements.
As part of the deal, the US is expected to lift its naval blockade on Iranian ports, while Iran would reaffirm its commitment not to pursue or develop nuclear weapons. Both countries are aiming to navigate negotiations concerning Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium, which currently exceeds 9,000 kilograms, of which 440 kilograms are at near-weapons-grade levels. Historically, Tehran maintains that its nuclear ambitions are exclusively peaceful.
While the optimistic rhetoric around the potential agreement is notable, it is essential to recognize that this proposed deal appears significantly less favorable than previous negotiations. The unnecessary conflict that has unfolded over the last few months has exacerbated global energy prices, straining economies and increasing the urgency in finding a diplomatic solution.
President Donald Trump took to Truth Social to declare that the deal would be signed shortly and that the Strait would be reopened immediately thereafter. "No money will exchange hands," he asserted, promising that, when conditions are stable, the US will address the issue of Iran’s nuclear capabilities.
Despite the positive statements from both sides, Iranian spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei cautioned that the timing for signing the memorandum remains uncertain and emphasized the need for consensus among decision-makers in Tehran. He characterized the process as fraught with instability and inconsistency, urging a cautious approach to any announcements.
The reopening of the Strait has been a focal point for Trump, particularly amid a burgeoning global energy crisis that has driven up gas prices in the US as the midterm elections approach. Recent clashes have underscored the fragility of the situation, with both sides exchanging fire amid escalating tensions.
While the prospect of an agreement offers a glimmer of hope, its implications must be critically assessed in the context of the unnecessary war that preceded it. A deal could temporarily ease tensions and impact energy prices, but it does little to rectify the underlying issues that led to the escalation.
Senior Israeli officials: MOU endangers Israel’s security; nuclear and other key issues unresolved; US giving up military leverage
Senior Israeli officials quoted in a Channel 12 report say that the emerging US-Iran deal indicates that Washington has agreed to Tehran’s “main conditions,” adding that “the Iranians are not agreeing to this for nothing.”
The report says Israeli officials and experts who have worked for decades on the Iran file consider that the terms of the MOU apparently set to be signed tomorrow “endanger Israel’s security interests.”
What will happen immediately “is the opening of the Strait of Hormuz, the resuscitation of the regime, and a slap in the face for the Iranian public,” the officials say.
Iran is “paying on credit” with this framework, the officials say, with Tehran only agreeing to discuss its nuclear program once the war formally ends and a number of other conditions are met, including the release of frozen Iranian funds.
“This is the same framework as the agreement to end the war in Gaza,” an official tells the TV station. “Ask yourself what has happened since then with the commitment to disarm Hamas? What will be the Americans’ essential leverage if, after 60 days of a ceasefire, the Iranians do not begin the steps required of them? The credible military threat has been all but eroded.”
“The uranium extraction has become uranium dilution and the missile system is not part of the agreement at all,” the officials lament, noting that the main issues that Israel was hoping to deal with during the war remain unaddressed.
“All the goals that Israel set are not immediately dealt with in the agreement. Not only is Iran not required to stop supporting proxies, it is reconnecting itself with Hezbollah through the agreement,” the officials add.
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