Lead:

A landmark agreement between the United States and Iran to end hostilities and impose nuclear restrictions appeared imminent on Sunday, with President Donald Trump announcing the deal was on track for signing within hours. However, an Israeli airstrike on Beirut's southern suburbs introduced significant uncertainty, with Trump himself publicly criticising the attack and acknowledging it had disrupted the agreement's timeline. The unfolding crisis has drawn in multiple regional and international actors.

Details:

According to Al-Jazirah, President Trump formally announced via his Truth Social platform that an agreement had been reached with Iran, describing it as fulfilling the central objective of his administration's foreign policy. Trump subsequently confirmed that the deal remained on course despite the Israeli strike, stating that signing was expected within hours. His vice president, JD Vance, separately addressed questions regarding whether Trump would attend the formal signing ceremony, according to Al-Yaum.

Iran's National Security Council announced that the signing was scheduled for Friday, while a senior Iranian official, as reported by Al-Jazirah, confirmed that the draft memorandum of understanding includes a suspension of sanctions, nuclear restrictions, and the release of frozen Iranian assets. The same official stated that Washington had agreed to facilitate a reduction of Iran's highly enriched uranium stockpile within Iranian territory. Al-Yaum further reported that a separate Iranian official confirmed Tehran had agreed to renounce nuclear weapons development entirely.

Contradictions and tensions emerged in parallel. Al-Watan reported that Iran's chief nuclear negotiator and parliament speaker, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, stated that the Israeli strike on Beirut complicated Iranian-American calculations. Al-Yaum reported that Iran refused to sign the agreement on the date of Trump's 80th birthday, signalling sensitivity over optics and national dignity. Conflicting reports also surfaced regarding Iran's decision to suspend or resume commercial flights, indicating internal uncertainty about the security environment.

Pakistan formally announced the peace agreement, according to Al-Yaum, while former US President Barack Obama expressed public scepticism, questioning whether the Trump-negotiated deal would prove superior to the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

Watch For:

The formal signing date remains fluid. Iran's National Security Council cited Friday as the target, but the Israeli strike on Lebanon and Iran's symbolic objections to the proposed timeline introduce the possibility of further postponement.

The role of Israel requires close monitoring. Trump's unusually sharp public criticism of the Beirut strike, which he described in strikingly blunt terms, suggests Washington may apply pressure on Tel Aviv, though the extent of that leverage remains unclear.

Former President Obama's scepticism may signal emerging domestic opposition in the United States, which could affect congressional reception of any final agreement and its long-term durability.