US-Iran war news highlights: Trump declares Iran deal complete, Pakistan sets June 19 signing date

US President Donald Trump marked his 80th birthday on Sunday by celebrating what he described as an agreement to end the war in Iran, ahead of an unusual birthday event - a UFC mixed martial arts show on the South Lawn of the White House.

US-Iran war news highlights: US President Donald Trump marked his 80th birthday on Sunday by celebrating what he described as an agreement to end the war in Iran, ahead of an unusual birthday event - a UFC mixed martial arts show on the South Lawn of the White House. Trump had been promoting the emerging deal for weeks, and last-minute strikes in the conflict had threatened to overshadow the high-profile event. The UFC spectacle, held on the historic White House grounds, featured fighters competing inside a wire-mesh octagon in bouts involving punches, kicks and other combat techniques.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the agreement between the United States and Iran would be signed in Switzerland on June 19 and would include an end to military operations in Lebanon, a key demand for Tehran.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi also confirmed that an agreement had been reached and said the text of the memorandum would be released after the signing.

Global energy markets have been gripped by the conflict since it broke out in late February, when the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran aimed at curbing its nuclear programme.

Israel vs Hezbollah

Israel and Hezbollah have continued to trade fire on Sunday, even as the latter launched three drones towards Israeli territory. Following this, Israel said it had struck a Hezbollah command centre in southern Lebanon, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warning that Israel won't tolerate “fire directed at its territory.”

With a proposed Iran peace deal appearing within reach, US President Donald Trump is set to take the next step at the G7 summit, where he is expected to discuss international efforts to de-mine the Strait of Hormuz and restore normal shipping through the strategic waterway, Associated Press reported citing a US official.

The UK and France, both members of the G7, have signalled their readiness to assist in demining operations in the strait after a pause in the conflict.

When will the deal be signed?

US President Donald Trump and key mediator Pakistan both projected that the agreement would be formalised on Sunday.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said a peace deal was likely to be finalised within the next 24 hours, after which the parties would sign electronically.

"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," Sharif said, the Associated Press reported.

Pakistan's foreign ministry also said the signing ceremony was planned for Sunday, though it did not disclose further details.

According to Pakistani officials, the electronic signing would be followed by technical-level negotiations lasting up to 60 days, focusing primarily on Iran's nuclear programme.

What Iran said

Iran struck a more cautious note, with Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei saying, "We must wait for the exact timing of the agreement's signing. It will not happen tomorrow, but it could take place in the coming days. Due to the other side's inconsistency, we must remain cautious in commenting on the process," IRIB quoted the Baghaei as saying.

Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei also reiterated earlier in the day that the signing date had not yet been fixed, though he added that "The possibility of this happening in the coming days cannot be ruled out."

Despite the disagreement over timing, Tehran's statements were among its most optimistic since negotiations began.

What Trump said

Trump maintained that the deal would be signed on Sunday and suggested that one of its immediate consequences would be the reopening of Strait of Hormuz.

"The Deal is scheduled to get signed tomorrow, and immediately after it is signed, the Hormuz Strait is OPEN TO ALL," Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Since an April 8 truce halted the heaviest fighting, Trump has repeatedly said that an agreement was close, though previous negotiations failed to produce a final breakthrough.

On Saturday, he again expressed confidence that the process was nearing completion.

Latest on Strait of Hormuz

The future of the Strait of Hormuz remains one of the most contentious issues in the talks.

Iran has maintained a blockade of the waterway since the early stages of the war, requiring vessels to obtain permission from its armed forces before passage and establishing a new authority to oversee transit and collect tolls.

Tehran has insisted that it will continue to exercise control over the strategic route, through which a significant share of the world's oil and gas shipments pass.

The United States, however, has repeatedly said Iranian control over the strait is unacceptable. Trump's latest remarks indicated that the waterway would reopen fully, though he did not address issues such as tolls or future administrative arrangements.

US Central Command said on Saturday that Iran had "launched multiple one-way attack drones in an attempt to strike commercial ships transiting the Strait" and that US forces had intercepted all of them.

What is in the proposed deal?

Draft terms of the agreement suggest that Washington would begin releasing billions of dollars in frozen Iranian assets and ease sanctions on Iranian oil exports in exchange for Iran reopening the Strait of Hormuz, news agency Reuters reported.

The framework also envisions a 60-day negotiation process focused on Iran's nuclear programme.

According to a US official, the eventual goal would be the dismantling of Iran's nuclear programme, the destruction of its stockpile of highly enriched uranium and the implementation of a long-term inspection regime to verify compliance.

The proposals reportedly also include discussions on possible war reparations for Tehran and the removal of longstanding US demands regarding Iran's missile programme. A US official, however, disputed that claim.