The US and Iran are reportedly expected to announce a peace deal by Sunday afternoon, a development that would cap one of the most volatile diplomatic sagas of the Trump presidency. If it actually materializes, this would be the first formal agreement between the two nations aimed at ending hostilities that have escalated sharply since nuclear negotiations collapsed.
A long road through back channels
The current round of diplomacy traces back to April 2025, when President Trump initiated indirect contact with Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, through a series of letters. A 60-day deadline was set during those initial discussions. It passed without an agreement.
The talks picked up momentum again in 2026, with Pakistan stepping in as a key mediator. By May 6, 2026, reports surfaced of progress toward a one-page memorandum of understanding, or MOU, that would formally end the ongoing hostilities between the two countries. The framework reportedly addressed three core issues: a formal cessation of conflict, maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz, and a pathway toward further discussions on US sanctions and Iran’s nuclear program.
On May 10, 2026, Iranian officials described the US proposal, which had been relayed through Pakistani mediators, as “realistic and positive.”
