Middle East war live: Trump says Iran deal to be signed Sunday

US and Pakistani leaders predicted a Sunday signing of an agreement to end the war against Iran, with US President Donald Trump saying the critical Strait of Hormuz would be "open to all" immediately after. Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei had said earlier on Saturday that the date of the signing was yet to be determined, but that it would not be on Sunday. Follow our liveblog for the latest updates. Will a peace deal be reached soon? US President Donald Trump said that a deal with Iran to end the war in the Middle East could be signed Sunday, and that the strategic Strait of Hormuz would be "open to all" immediately after. Iran had offered a different timeline earlier in the day, but nonetheless signalled an agreement was in the offing, as both the warring parties and their mediators expressed increasing optimism that weeks of halting negotiations were drawing to a close. US-Iran peace agreement: A reason to be optimistic? Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said a deal aimed at ending the war was closer than "ever before" and expected to be finalized within 24 hours. Pakistan was preparing for the electronic signing of the agreement, to be followed immediately by technical-level talks next week. Trump and Pakistan say Iran deal could be signed Sunday but Tehran signals more time is needed Key mediator Pakistan on Saturday said a deal to end the Iran war was closer than ever and US President Donald Trump asserted it would be "signed tomorrow,” while Iran made some of its most optimistic statements yet but indicated a bit more time was needed. Trump said the Strait of Hormuz would open immediately after the signing. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said a deal was expected to be finalized within 24 hours. Each side was expected to sign electronically. Pakistan’s foreign ministry said the signing ceremony was scheduled for Sunday but did not provide details. Iran foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei in statements carried by state media said the signing “will not happen tomorrow," but “the likelihood of finalizing the memorandum of understanding in the coming days is high." Dozens protested Saturday outside a foreign ministry office in Iran's northeastern city of Mashhad, chanting slogans against top diplomat Abbas Araghchi after a televised interview in which he discussed signing a peace deal with the US. In a video shared by Fars news agency, women in black chadors chanted "death to dishonourable Araghchi, the infiltrator" in front of the building, while waving red and black flags. The protest comes as the peace deal touted by US President Donald Trump and mediator Pakistan faces opposition from hardline Iranian figures. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said that upon finalisation, a draft deal with the US would be signed "remotely", which could happen "in the coming days." French foreign minister Jean-Noël Barrot has called on the US and Iran to seize the opportunity to end a situation that is unsustainable and sign an initial peace deal. The United Arab Emirates has agreed to unlock billions of dollars for Iran, four sources told Reuters, in a tactical shift after weeks of Iranian attacks on the wealthy Gulf Arab state during the US-Israeli war with the Islamic Republic.