Diplomatic efforts between the United States and Iran have entered a careful, deliberate phase after US President Donald Trump instructed American negotiators to avoid rushing into a final agreement, even as both sides acknowledge ongoing constructive progress in talks. The emerging framework under negotiation includes three core components: a 60-day extension of the existing ceasefire, the full reopening of the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz, and the launch of expanded negotiations to address longstanding international concerns over Iran’s nuclear program.
The push for a negotiated settlement comes after months of escalating military conflict in the region. On February 28, the United States and Israel launched large-scale air strikes targeting Iranian positions. Tehran responded in kind, launching a series of drone and missile attacks against Israeli and American assets across Gulf nations, raising fears of a full-scale regional war. An initial ceasefire agreed to in April has been largely respected by both sides, though sporadic exchanges of fire have continued in the weeks since.
Just one day before his announcement pausing any rush to a deal, Trump told supporters a broad agreement was already “largely negotiated”, sparking widespread speculation that a formal announcement could come within hours. That optimism has since been tempered by conflicting signals from Tehran, where Iranian media reports note that “one or two” key sticking points remain unresolved. While Iranian officials confirmed that discussions have made tangible progress over the weekend, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmail Baghaei stressed that this progress does not guarantee final consensus on the most contentious core issues.
In a Sunday post published to his Truth Social platform, Trump doubled down on his call for cautious diplomacy. “Negotiations are proceeding in an orderly and constructive manner, and I have informed my representatives not to rush into a deal because time is on our side,” he wrote. “Both sides must take their time and get it right. There can be no mistakes!”
The US president also reaffirmed a longstanding non-negotiable US stance: Tehran must permanently abandon any effort to develop a nuclear weapon. This position is fully shared by Israel and other Western allies. Washington and its partners have long accused Iran of pursuing a covert nuclear weapons program via its uranium enrichment activities, a charge Tehran has repeatedly denied, maintaining that all of its nuclear work is for purely peaceful civilian purposes, including energy production and medical research.
Trump also confirmed that the US naval blockade of Iranian ports, implemented in early April to pressure Tehran into making concessions, will remain in full effect until a final agreement is reached, officially certified, and signed by both parties. The standoff over the Strait of Hormuz has had global economic consequences: since Iran effectively closed the vital waterway, through which roughly 20% of the world’s total oil and liquefied natural gas shipments pass, global energy prices have spiked sharply, impacting consumers and economies worldwide.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently offered a measured assessment of the talks, confirming that “significant” progress has been made, but stopping short of declaring the negotiations final. He hinted at positive movement on the Strait of Hormuz file, noting that progress made over the 48 hours prior to his comments could lead to a “completely open strait… without tolls” if the current momentum holds.
On the Iranian side, Baghaei told state-run television Saturday that Tehran is currently finalizing a memorandum of understanding that would clear the way for additional, more in-depth talks aimed at reaching a binding final agreement. Trump also referenced the planned memorandum in an earlier Truth Social post on Saturday.
Pakistan, which has served as the third-party mediator for the indirect talks between Washington and Tehran, has struck an optimistic tone. Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar said that recent progress in negotiations creates “grounds for optimism” and that a positive outcome is now “within reach”. Still, multiple US media outlets have cited anonymous American officials reporting that no final agreement is expected to be signed on Sunday, pushing any potential announcement back to a later date as negotiators work through the remaining outstanding disagreements.