The gap between hope and reality cracked open on Saturday morning. US President Donald Trump told reporters at the White House that a deal to end the war against Iran would be signed on Sunday — and that the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway through which roughly 20 percent of global oil flows, would reopen to all shipping immediately afterwards. Pakistan's leadership echoed that Sunday deadline within hours. Tehran did not agree.

Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei stated clearly that the signing date had not been fixed, and that it would definitely not take place on Sunday. The contradiction between the two sides left diplomats and markets in an uneasy holding pattern, with neither a confirmed deal nor a confirmed breakdown. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had already signalled flexibility on format, saying any finalised draft could be signed remotely, potentially within days — but he stopped well short of naming a date. The diplomatic pressure is building from several directions at once.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot urged both Washington and Tehran to seize what he called an opportunity to end a situation he described as unsustainable, adding his voice to a growing chorus of European leaders pushing for a swift initial agreement.