Pakistan’s prime minister says the United States and Iran have reached a peace deal to end their war, with the signing set for Friday in Switzerland.
The United States and Iran have reached a peace deal to end their war, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced on Sunday. In a post on X, Sharif said both sides declared the immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon. He said the official signing ceremony will take place on Friday, June 19, in Switzerland.
President Donald Trump confirmed the agreement soon after, writing on Truth Social that the deal with Iran was complete. Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said Tehran and Washington had finalized a memorandum of understanding. Behind the breakthrough sat months of mediation by Pakistan, which helped bring both sides to the table.
The confrontation between the United States and Iran sent shockwaves across the Middle East. The war began on February 28, 2026, when strikes killed Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, and other officials. Iran responded with missile strikes, and Lebanon was drawn in as the fighting widened over the following weeks.
Global markets faced a drastic impact. Iran moved to block the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important oil routes, and the disruption pushed global oil prices from about $70 a barrel before the war to an average above $100 in March. Fuel shortages hit parts of Asia, and concern grew over shipping lanes and wider instability.
As of early April, Iran’s Health Ministry reported at least 3,400 people killed in Iran, while Lebanon’s Health Ministry reported thousands more killed there, with tens of thousands wounded across the region. As the toll mounted, calls for diplomacy grew more urgent.
Pakistan Mediation Behind US Iran Peace Deal
Pakistan acted as the lead mediator throughout the conflict, one of the few governments able to talk to both sides. Islamabad relayed messages between Washington and Tehran and helped pass a US proposal to Iran, Pakistani officials said. Pakistan’s former ambassador to Tehran, Asif Durrani, said the country was the only one in the region with good relations with both capitals.
Senior Pakistani leaders worked the talks directly. Sharif held a phone call with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, after which the Prime Minister’s Office said Tehran confirmed it would join talks in Islamabad. Army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir spoke with Trump around the time Washington paused strikes. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi traveled to Tehran in May to help restart stalled talks.
The first breakthrough came on April 8, when Sharif announced a two-week ceasefire covering all fronts, including Lebanon, after Pakistani mediation. He then invited both sides to Islamabad for talks aimed at a conclusive agreement, which Iran confirmed it would attend.
US Iran War Timeline and Regional Toll
The war began on February 28, 2026, when strikes killed Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, and other officials. Iran responded with missile strikes, and Lebanon was drawn in as the fighting widened. Iran also moved to block the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important oil routes. The disruption triggered fuel shortages in parts of Asia and pushed global oil prices from about $70 a barrel before the war to an average above $100 in March.
The human cost was heavy. As of early April, Iran’s Health Ministry reported at least 3,400 people killed in Iran, while Lebanon’s Health Ministry reported thousands more killed there. Tens of thousands were wounded across the region.
The path to peace was not smooth. After the Islamabad talks failed to produce a final deal, the United States imposed a naval blockade on Iran on April 13. Trump later extended the ceasefire indefinitely as a standoff over the Strait of Hormuz dragged on.
US Iran Peace Deal Signing Set for Switzerland
Momentum returned in mid-June. Sharif said a final, agreed text had been reached and that the deal could be signed within days, electronically. Pakistani diplomats coordinated with Gulf partners over the weekend. Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar briefed Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister, while Sharif thanked Qatar’s prime minister for its support throughout the crisis.
Under the framework, the United States is set to lift its naval blockade and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, while talks on Iran’s nuclear program continue during a 60-day window. Iran’s deputy foreign minister said broader discussions with Washington would take place during that period.
In his announcement, Sharif thanked the United States and Iran for choosing diplomacy. He credited Qatar for its support and singled out Saudi Arabia and Türkiye for their contributions. He said mediators will hold pre-implementation meetings this week to prepare for the technical talks and the signing.
For Pakistan, Friday’s ceremony in Switzerland would mark the formal close of a months-long effort that placed it at the center of the negotiations.
