Geneva likely venue for US-Iran peace deal signing on Sunday; Tehran denies reports
Geneva is being considered as a possible venue for signing a US-Iran peace agreement, but Tehran has dismissed claims that a deal will be signed on Sunday, saying no final decision has been made yet.
Geneva has emerged as a possible venue for the signing of a US-Iran peace agreement aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz and extending a fragile ceasefire, according to reports by Bloomberg and CNN. However, Tehran has pushed back against claims that the agreement was set to be signed as early as Sunday (June 14).
Citing senior officials, Bloomberg reported that the US and Iran could sign an interim agreement on the sidelines of the G7 summit in France next week, with Geneva being considered as a potential location due to its proximity to the summit venue in the French Alps. CNN, citing sources familiar with the negotiations, also reported that a signing ceremony for the deal was most likely to be held in Geneva and could take place as early as Sunday.
US President Donald Trump has indicated that Vice President JD Vance and special envoy Steve Witkoff would represent him at any signing ceremony. The proposed interim agreement would reportedly extend the current ceasefire by around two months, reopen the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping and pave the way for further negotiations over Iran's nuclear programme.
However, Iran publicly downplayed reports that an agreement was imminent.
An Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson said, "We have not yet reached a conclusion" on any deal with Washington, although he acknowledged progress in recent days. Iran's state-run IRNA news agency separately quoted a spokesperson as saying a draft agreement was "nearly finalised and awaiting a final decision from Iran's decision-making bodies".
Tehran also disputed reports of a Geneva signing. Iran's Fars News Agency, citing a source close to the negotiating team, said reports about an agreement being signed with the United States in Geneva on Sunday were "false".
According to Bloomberg, the proposed deal still required approval from Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei. The report said mediators from Qatar and Pakistan have been playing a key role in facilitating talks.
Earlier today, Trump accused Tehran of leaking inaccurate details about ongoing negotiations and claimed Iran's public statements did not reflect the terms agreed upon by both sides.
CNN reported that the draft deal is being referred to by some negotiators as the "Islamabad Declaration" in recognition of Pakistan's mediation efforts, although that has not been officially confirmed.
The possible agreement came after Trump said on Thursday that a "great settlement" with Iran was close and suggested a signing ceremony could take place in Europe in the coming days. The remarks helped push oil prices lower to a near two-month low, with investors betting that a deal could ease tensions in the Middle East and restore normal shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial artery for global energy supplies.
Despite signs of progress, significant hurdles remain, including final approval from Iran's leadership and concerns from Israel, which has expressed scepticism about any arrangement that eases pressure on Tehran. For now, both Washington and Tehran appear to be keeping negotiations alive, even as Iranian officials reject reports that a final agreement has already been reached.
Monday marked the 100th day of the Iran war, which began on February 28 when Israel and the US killed then-Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other senior Iranian leaders. The war raged across the Middle East until the two sides reached a ceasefire on April 8.
However, efforts at a permanent end to the hostilities have been challenged by Iran's chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of all traded oil and natural gas once passed in peacetime, as well as fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.
Geneva has emerged as a possible venue for the signing of a US-Iran peace agreement aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz and extending a fragile ceasefire, according to reports by Bloomberg and CNN. However, Tehran has pushed back against claims that the agreement was set to be signed as early as Sunday (June 14).
Citing senior officials, Bloomberg reported that the US and Iran could sign an interim agreement on the sidelines of the G7 summit in France next week, with Geneva being considered as a potential location due to its proximity to the summit venue in the French Alps. CNN, citing sources familiar with the negotiations, also reported that a signing ceremony for the deal was most likely to be held in Geneva and could take place as early as Sunday.
US President Donald Trump has indicated that Vice President JD Vance and special envoy Steve Witkoff would represent him at any signing ceremony. The proposed interim agreement would reportedly extend the current ceasefire by around two months, reopen the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping and pave the way for further negotiations over Iran's nuclear programme.
However, Iran publicly downplayed reports that an agreement was imminent.
An Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson said, "We have not yet reached a conclusion" on any deal with Washington, although he acknowledged progress in recent days. Iran's state-run IRNA news agency separately quoted a spokesperson as saying a draft agreement was "nearly finalised and awaiting a final decision from Iran's decision-making bodies".
Tehran also disputed reports of a Geneva signing. Iran's Fars News Agency, citing a source close to the negotiating team, said reports about an agreement being signed with the United States in Geneva on Sunday were "false".
According to Bloomberg, the proposed deal still required approval from Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei. The report said mediators from Qatar and Pakistan have been playing a key role in facilitating talks.
Earlier today, Trump accused Tehran of leaking inaccurate details about ongoing negotiations and claimed Iran's public statements did not reflect the terms agreed upon by both sides.
CNN reported that the draft deal is being referred to by some negotiators as the "Islamabad Declaration" in recognition of Pakistan's mediation efforts, although that has not been officially confirmed.
The possible agreement came after Trump said on Thursday that a "great settlement" with Iran was close and suggested a signing ceremony could take place in Europe in the coming days. The remarks helped push oil prices lower to a near two-month low, with investors betting that a deal could ease tensions in the Middle East and restore normal shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial artery for global energy supplies.
Despite signs of progress, significant hurdles remain, including final approval from Iran's leadership and concerns from Israel, which has expressed scepticism about any arrangement that eases pressure on Tehran. For now, both Washington and Tehran appear to be keeping negotiations alive, even as Iranian officials reject reports that a final agreement has already been reached.
Monday marked the 100th day of the Iran war, which began on February 28 when Israel and the US killed then-Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other senior Iranian leaders. The war raged across the Middle East until the two sides reached a ceasefire on April 8.
However, efforts at a permanent end to the hostilities have been challenged by Iran's chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of all traded oil and natural gas once passed in peacetime, as well as fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.
