ITALY PERSPECTIVE

Rome, June 14, 2026. Italy examines with particular attention the internal mechanics of this negotiation that resembles a multi-act theatrical production more than a classical diplomatic process. While Donald Trump promised a Sunday signing and immediate opening of the Strait of Hormuz, Tehran responded with vague timelines and Islamabad imposed itself as an unexpected arbiter of a schedule that no one truly controls.

Italian press above all notes what ANSA describes as a cascade of simultaneous claims and denials across social networks and media channels of both sides. The hypothesis of a Geneva ceremony has been abandoned: the signature would occur "at a distance," via videoconference, according to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Islamabad insisted, nonetheless, on Sunday as the deadline, speaking of "finalization expected within the next 24 hours."

La Repubblica highlights the central contradiction: Trump asserts that "Khamenei said yes" to the agreement, while the Fars agency, close to the Revolutionary Guards, characterizes the idea of an imminent signing in Geneva as an "American illusion." On Truth Social, Trump accuses Iran of spreading "false news" about the memorandum's terms, claiming that "the conditions Iran leaked have nothing to do with those agreed in writing."

Adnkronos notes that the Revolutionary Guards themselves describe Washington's "unusual insistence" as a "test for our negotiating team" — an interpretation suggesting that Tehran perceives American pressure as a tactical maneuver rather than genuine finalization. Trump has positioned this agreement in direct opposition to Obama's JCPOA, insisting that "there will be no money exchange," unlike the 1.7 billion dollars in cash transferred in 2015.

The regional context also weighs heavily: Netanyahu declares that "in case of Iranian attack, we will retaliate," and the Israeli military reports elimination of Islamic Jihad and Hamas commanders in Gaza. Rome notes that Trump reportedly told Netanyahu to "stop or stand alone" — a signal that Washington is managing multiple fronts simultaneously and that pressure to conclude quickly also stems from the American political agenda: the Evian G7 and the president's anniversary.