Middle East Live: Dozens protest peace deal outside Iran foreign ministry

Dozens of protesters rallied outside Iran's foreign ministry office in the holy city of Mashhad on Saturday, denouncing top diplomat Abbas Araghchi following his televised remarks on a potential peace deal with the United States. Chants of 'death to dishonorable Araghchi, the infiltrator' highlighted intense domestic opposition from hardline factions who accuse negotiators of making unacceptable concessions in the proposed agreement to end the ongoing conflict. This domestic backlash erupts as US President Donald Trump and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif projected a Sunday signing for the 'Memorandum of Understanding' aimed at ending the protracted 'Operation Epic Fury' war between the US and Iran. Key contentious points in the emerging deal include the reopening of the crucial Strait of Hormuz, with Iran insisting on charging 'service fees' and maintaining administrative control, a stance directly conflicting with US demands for unrestricted passage, as well as the phased lifting of crippling US sanctions and the release of an estimated $24 billion in frozen Iranian assets. Hardliners are particularly concerned that the deal compromises Iran strategic leverage and question the negotiating team's authority, pointing to the public silence of Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei. While Trump and Sharif signaled imminent finalization, Iran's Foreign Ministry has cast doubt on the Sunday timeline, stating no final decision has been reached and negotiations are ongoing, with Qatari mediators currently in Tehran. The current MoU is reportedly a first phase, deferring complex issues like Iran nuclear program for 60 days of subsequent negotiations, ensuring that even an initial agreement would only represent a fragile détente in a conflict marked by deep-seated mistrust and recent intense military exchanges involving Israel and Iranian proxies.