US President Donald Trump said Sunday he has told American negotiators to move cautiously in talks with Iran, signaling that no immediate breakthrough is expected despite reports of near-final terms. The message matters because negotiations are tied to Gulf shipping security, high global energy prices, and the risk of renewed regional fighting.
What Happened
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said discussions were advancing in an "orderly and constructive" way but added that both sides must proceed carefully. He wrote that his representatives had been instructed not to hurry, arguing that Washington holds leverage. The statement came a day after he said an accord had been largely worked out, fueling expectations that an announcement could be imminent.
US media reports describe a draft framework centered on extending a 60-day ceasefire, restoring passage through the Strait of Hormuz, and continuing negotiations over Tehran's nuclear activities. Some reports also indicate the package could require Iran to transfer its stockpile of highly enriched uranium. Iran is believed to possess roughly 440kg of such material, which can support civilian energy use but, at sufficient enrichment levels, can also be used in weapons development.
Iranian officials have also acknowledged momentum but warned that unresolved issues remain. Foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said progress should not be read as agreement on core points, and Iranian media reported one or two sticking points still separate the sides. Baghaei said Tehran was preparing a memorandum of understanding to enable further talks toward a final accord, a document Trump also referenced in weekend remarks.
Impact & Consequences
The immediate stakes are economic as well as strategic. Iran's continued control over the Strait of Hormuz has effectively shuttered a route used by about one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas flows, driving price volatility. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said progress was significant though unfinished, and suggested a successful outcome could produce a fully open strait without tolls, a shift that would likely ease pressure on energy markets.
At the same time, Trump's decision to keep the US port blockade on Iran in force until any deal is reached, verified, and signed preserves coercive pressure while talks continue. Diplomatically, the pause-and-pressure approach aims to avoid a weak interim arrangement, but it also risks prolonging uncertainty for shipping firms, Gulf states, and governments trying to plan around disrupted fuel costs and possible military miscalculation.
Background & Context
The current negotiations follow a rapid escalation that began when the United States and Israel launched extensive strikes on Iran on 28 February. Tehran answered with attacks targeting Israel and US-aligned countries in the Gulf, widening fears of a broader Middle East conflict. A ceasefire reached in April was intended to create space for diplomacy and has mostly held, though sporadic exchanges have continued.
Nuclear concerns remain central. Washington, Israel, and other Western partners maintain that Iran is seeking the capacity to build a nuclear weapon, while Tehran insists its program is exclusively peaceful. Trump has repeatedly said Iran must not obtain a bomb, making that demand a non-negotiable line in US messaging. The dispute over uranium stocks, verification, and sequencing of concessions has therefore become one of the most sensitive parts of the talks.
International Response
Political reaction in Washington has been sharply divided. Several Republicans have publicly criticized the reported framework as too permissive. Senator Ted Cruz called such an agreement a major error, while Senate Armed Services Committee Chair Roger Wicker warned that a 60-day truce could negate gains from Operation Epic Fury. Their comments underscore pressure on the administration from hawkish voices seeking tougher terms.
Other US lawmakers have defended the negotiations. Representative Mike Lawler, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said the administration had compelled serious engagement from Tehran. Regionally, Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, who has played a mediation role, said recent sessions provide reasons for optimism and suggested a positive result may be close. Still, multiple US outlets reported that officials did not expect a formal signing on Sunday.
What to Expect Next
Negotiators are expected to focus next on final wording for a memorandum that would lock in further talks while addressing the remaining points of dispute. Key tests will include whether Hormuz traffic resumes, how nuclear verification is structured, and whether the US blockade terms are eased in phases. With both governments signaling progress but resisting haste, the coming days are likely to deliver incremental steps rather than a dramatic, single-day breakthrough.
