▲ U.S. President Donald Trump
It has been reported that Iran deliberately delayed finalizing a peace agreement until after midnight on June 14 (local time) to avoid reaching a deal on the 80th birthday of U.S. President Donald Trump.
According to The New York Times (NYT), Iran reportedly held off on giving final confirmation to the agreement until the day had passed.
Iranian officials stated that this was because they did not want a significant peace deal to coincide with President Trump's birthday.
However, officials added that since there is a 7-hour and 30-minute time difference between the United States and Iran, both sides were able to claim the finalization of the agreement according to their own preferred timing.
President Trump announced on his social media platform, Truth Social, at approximately 5:30 p.m. Eastern Time on that day that a peace deal with Iran had been reached. By that time, it was already around 1:00 a.m. on June 15 in Iran.
Previously, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed in a Telegram post on June 13 that President Trump was showing "unusual stubbornness" to conclude the peace negotiations in time for his birthday on June 14.
The Revolutionary Guard criticized the move, stating, "Some point out that President Trump's insistence stems from a desire to use this signing ceremony symbolically and turn it into a personal promotional event."
Within Iran, opposition to the peace deal with the U.S. continues, led by hardliners including the Revolutionary Guard.
On June 13, ahead of the deal's finalization, hardliners in Iran gathered outside the Foreign Ministry building in the northeastern city of Mashhad to denounce Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who led the negotiation process, chanting slogans such as "Death to the shameful traitor Araghchi."
(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.