Iran Warns Israel Seeks to Sabotage Peace Deal with US

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said that after finalisation, a draft agreement with the United States will be signed remotely. The deal, expected to be sealed in the coming days, is reportedly being targeted for sabotage by Israel. “As soon as the final stages of our negotiations are complete, this agreement will be signed and announced. The initial signing will be done digitally. Each party will sign remotely. After that, it will be announced that this memorandum of understanding has been signed by both sides,” Araghchi said in an interview with state television, as reported by AFP on Saturday (13/6/2026). “This could happen in the coming days. I am very hopeful.” Araghchi had previously stated that the framework, called the ‘Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding’, aimed at ending the war with the US that erupted on 28 February, had “never been closer.” On Thursday (11/6), US President Donald Trump said he had called off a planned strike on Iran and claimed a deal to end the war could be signed soon. In his interview, Araghchi said he would announce the details of the framework after it is “completed and finalised” and that discussing details now would risk “jeopardising the signing of the agreement.” He said the draft deal includes ending the US naval blockade of Iranian ports, in effect since 13 April, and arrangements for the management of the strategic Strait of Hormuz. Traffic through Hormuz, a vital global shipping lane, has been under Iranian control since the outbreak of war with the US and Israel on 28 February. Iran, which has allowed only a few vessels to pass through the strait, insists that ships obtain permission from its armed forces before transiting. The naval blockade must be completely lifted. “That is the first point mentioned in the agreement,” Araghchi said. “Iran has made a firm decision that the management of the Strait of Hormuz will not be the same as before,” he said, adding that discussions are ongoing with Oman on this issue. He said Hormuz is among Iran’s “main instruments of deterrence.” He confirmed that details of Iran’s nuclear programme, including its stockpile of highly enriched uranium—a contentious issue for Washington—will be discussed during a 60-day period after the signing of the framework. “Our position has always been that the only way to handle the stockpile of enriched material is to dilute it inside Iran,” Araghchi said. During the interview, he warned against attempts to sabotage the potential deal, particularly by Israel. “I must honestly say that this agreement has enemies, the most important being the Zionist regime, which is looking for an excuse to derail it,” he said.