Iran Says US Deal Not Yet Within Reach

Iran has said progress has been made in negotiations with the United States but warned that an agreement between the two sides is still not close.

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Speaking in Tehran on Monday, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baqai said talks had advanced on many issues but cautioned against expectations of an imminent breakthrough.

“It is correct to say that we have reached a conclusion on a large portion of the issues under discussion,” Baqai said. “But to say that this means the signing of an agreement is imminent — no one can make such a claim.”

His comments came after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggested a deal could be announced as early as Monday.

Speaking to reporters in Delhi, Rubio said negotiators had hoped for developments overnight. “Maybe today,” he added, while warning against reading too much into the timing because communication with Tehran was taking time.

Talks and ceasefire proposal

According to reports, the proposed memorandum of understanding would include a 60-day extension of the ceasefire, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and further negotiations over Iran’s nuclear programme.

At the weekend, US President Donald Trump said the two sides were moving closer to a deal, although he later said he had instructed negotiators not to rush.

CBS News reported that US intelligence believes Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is in hiding after being injured during an Israeli strike at the start of the conflict that killed his father and predecessor. The report said difficulties communicating with his envoys had slowed the pace of negotiations.

US media reports said the current proposal is not intended as a final settlement and would leave several major issues unresolved for future talks. These include sanctions relief, access to frozen Iranian assets and Washington’s demands for limits on Iran’s nuclear activities.

Hormuz and market reaction

Rubio said the agreement would help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the key shipping route through which around one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas supplies pass.

Iran has effectively blocked the waterway since the conflict began, disrupting global trade and pushing up energy prices.

Markets reacted positively to signs of progress in the negotiations. Oil prices fell sharply on Monday, while Asian stock markets rose.

However, shipping executives warned that any recovery in global supply chains would take time even if an agreement is reached.

Lars Jensen, chief executive of Vespucci Maritime and former director at shipping company Maersk, told BBC Radio 4 that the industry would remain cautious for months before making significant operational changes.

Republican divisions emerge

The proposed deal has triggered criticism from several senior Republicans in Washington, exposing divisions within Trump’s political allies.

Senator Ted Cruz called the reported terms “a disastrous mistake”, while Senator Roger Wicker said a temporary ceasefire would undermine the results of “Operation Epic Fury”.

Senator Lindsey Graham also criticised any arrangement that could leave Iran appearing dominant in the region.

Trump dismissed the criticism, describing opponents as “losers” and insisting any agreement with Iran would either be “great and meaningful” or there would be no deal at all.

The conflict began after wide-ranging US and Israeli strikes on Iran on 28 February. Iran retaliated with attacks on Israel and Gulf states allied with Washington and moved to close the Strait of Hormuz.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran remained willing to reassure the international community that it was not seeking nuclear weapons.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source: 26 May 2026