A Revolutionary Guards-affiliated media channel rejected claims that Iran will sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the United States on Sunday, accusing President Donald Trump of pushing for the date to coincide with his 80th birthday and turn the agreement into a personal publicity event.
President Trump wrote on Truth Social on Saturday that an agreement was “scheduled to get signed” on Sunday. Pakistani Prime Minister Shebaz Sharif also expressed optimism, writing on X: “We are closer to a peace deal than ever before. With finalisation likely expected in the next 24 hours.”
However, a channel affiliated with the Revolutionary Guards disputed that timeline and criticized what it described as Trump’s “unusual insistence” on signing the agreement on Sunday.
“The US president emphasized again that the memorandum of understanding with Iran will be signed on Sunday. This while senior Iranian negotiators clearly stated that the agreement has not yet been finalized and will certainly not be done on Sunday,” the channel wrote.
The report added: “Tomorrow is Trump’s birthday. Some observers believe he is trying to use this event symbolically and turn it into a publicity event for himself. However, it seems that our country’s senior negotiators are aware of these hidden layers and will not allow such a media maneuver.”
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei also rejected reports that a signing was imminent. Iranian media described President Trump’s proposed timetable as “completely untrue” and suggested the date was linked to the president’s 80th birthday.
The disagreement over the timing of a potential agreement came as military activity continued in Lebanon.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Saturday that it had launched operations in the Beaufort Ridge area aimed at eliminating Hezbollah threats, preventing attacks on northern Israeli communities and dismantling underground infrastructure.
According to the military, seven Hezbollah terrorists operating from an underground tunnel route in southern Lebanon were killed during the operation. The route was reportedly used to store ammunition, mortars and food supplies intended to support attacks against Israeli forces. The IDF said Kalashnikov rifles and other military equipment were recovered from the terrorists.
If signed, the memorandum of understanding would require a cessation of fighting in Lebanon.
Israeli security officials quoted by N12 warned that the proposed agreement could endanger Israel’s security interests because it does not include restrictions on Iran’s ballistic missile program and could limit Israel’s ability to act against threats posed by the Iranian proxy Hezbollah in Lebanon.
