U.S.-Iran deal expected to reopen Strait of Hormuz could be signed within days, both sides say

Iran warU.S.-Iran deal expected to reopen Strait of Hormuz could be signed within days, both sides sayThe U.S. and Iran have for weeks appeared close to signing a deal aimed at bringing an end to the war, but officials have given differing accounts of its contents.Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00Add NBC News to GoogleCENTCOM says U.S. downs Iranian drones launched at ships in Strait of Hormuz00:39Get more newsLiveonShareAdd NBC News to GoogleJune 13, 2026, 6:28 AM EDTBy Freddie ClaytonA U.S.-Iran deal could be sealed within days, according to President Donald Trump and Iranian officials, with a memorandum of understanding expected to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.A memorandum of understanding “could happen within the next 1 or 2 days, or within the next few days,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Friday in an interview with Iranian state media that he posted on X. “I am hopeful.”Trump reposted Araghchi’s post on Truth Social, and later told Axios that he believed a deal with Iran could be signed over the weekend or Monday, while condemning what he said was fake information put out by Tehran on its contents.Key mediator Pakistan also said Friday that a “final, agreed upon text” of a U.S.-Iran deal had been reached, though there was no immediate confirmation from the U.S. or Iran. “Peace has never been this close as it is now,” Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif wrote on X. The U.S. and Iran have for weeks appeared close to signing a deal that would bring an end to the war that began at the end of February, when the U.S. and Israel launched strikes on Iran. Iran has since imposed strict controls over the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway, through which 20% of the world’s oil passed before the war, causing chaos to global markets. A ceasefire was agreed in mid-April, but the two sides have since exchanged intermittent fire, with strike...