TEHRAN: Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said a draft agreement with the United States could be signed remotely within days, as negotiators move closer to finalising a deal following months of talks between the two sides.
Speaking to state television, Araghchi said the agreement would initially be signed digitally by both parties before being formally announced, adding that he was optimistic a breakthrough could come in the coming days.
“As soon as the final stages of our negotiations are completed, this agreement will be signed and announced. The signing will initially take place digitally. Each side will sign remotely. After that, it will be announced that this memorandum of understanding has been signed by both parties,” said Araghchi in an interview with state television.
“This could happen in the coming days. I am very hopeful.”
Araghchi expressed optimism about the talks, saying a breakthrough could come within days. However, he later told Iranian media that major issues, including Iran’s nuclear programme and the lifting of US sanctions, had not yet been finalised and would be addressed during the next phase of negotiations.
According to the foreign minister, discussions have been structured in two stages, with the most sensitive nuclear issues postponed until later rounds of talks.
He said uranium enrichment levels and Iran’s stockpiles of enriched material would be settled in the final agreement.
Araghchi added that Iran’s Supreme National Security Council maintained full oversight of the negotiations and would announce a final decision after completing internal consultations.
Separately, Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Iranian institutions were meeting as part of the final process of compiling and reviewing the text of the understanding reached with Washington.
He declined to comment on reports regarding the timing or location of a possible signing ceremony, saying a final decision had yet to be taken by Iranian authorities.
The comments suggest both sides are moving closer to a formal arrangement after months of negotiations, although significant differences over sanctions relief and Iran’s nuclear activities remain unresolved.
Araghchi said the talks had been structured in stages, with the most sensitive nuclear questions postponed for later discussions, while Iran’s Supreme National Security Council retained full oversight of the process.
Trump says US, Iran reach peace deal
On Thursday, Trump said that he was calling off scheduled strikes on Iran because a deal had been reached.
According to a report by Axios, the US and Iran have agreed on the text of a draft memorandum of understanding (MoU), although the arrangement still requires final approval from both sides.
On Thursday, Trump claimed that the US has “ended the war” with Iran, saying Tehran had agreed never to possess a nuclear weapon and that a deal to formalise the arrangement could be signed within days. “I don’t know if you heard, but we ended the war with Iran today.”
“They have agreed never to have a nuclear weapon, something that we insisted on; that was the whole purpose. That was 95 percent of it,” Trump said.
Trump said Vice President JD Vance would represent the United States at a potential signing ceremony.
The United States and Israel launched the war on Iran on February 28. A fragile ceasefire was agreed in April, but both sides have traded fire in recent days.
