US-Iran deal signing shifts to electronic format as Tehran denies Sunday plan

The planned signing of a US-Iran agreement has been changed from an in-person ceremony to an electronic process, after conflicting public accounts from Washington and Tehran over when and how the deal would be finalised. US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that the agreement was scheduled to be signed on Sunday, and linked it to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps denied that any Sunday signing had been planned and criticised Trump for focusing on that date.

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The change comes as talks have moved quickly and mediators have sought to prevent any disruption before the agreement is locked in. Officials cited scheduling as the main reason the in-person ceremony was dropped, with the US president and vice president not travelling abroad at the same time for security reasons. Trump is due to leave for the G7 summit in France early on Monday, making it difficult to arrange travel for Vice President JD Vance and return in time.

If the memorandum of understanding is signed, it would begin a new 60-day round of talks on how to carry out the agreement, according to a US official cited in the reporting. Washington and Tehran have also given different descriptions of what is included in the deal, including disagreement over the financial relief Iran would receive. That has raised questions over whether the public differences are only about presentation or reflect a deeper dispute that could still derail the process.

The agreement has significance beyond the immediate diplomatic exchange because it is tied to the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route for global energy flows. Any indication that the route could reopen or remain affected is closely watched by governments and markets. The talks also come at a time when the US is trying to manage wider regional tensions while keeping the agreement from unravelling before it is formally signed.

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The latest development follows a week in which expectations around the signing changed several times. Trump had previously said he expected the signing to take place in Europe, with JD Vance representing the US, but those plans did not go ahead. The move to an electronic signing appears designed to preserve momentum while avoiding the logistical and security complications of a face-to-face ceremony.

What remains unclear is whether both sides are aligned on the substance of the deal, not just the timing of the signature. It is also not yet clear whether the electronic signing will proceed on the expected timetable or whether further changes will be announced. The next key point to watch is whether the memorandum is signed and whether the promised 60-day follow-on talks begin as planned.

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