U.S. President Donald Trump has said Washington will not rush into a nuclear agreement with Iran, insisting negotiations must be carefully finalized as talks continue over Tehran’s uranium program and the future of the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.
In a social media post on Sunday, Trump described the ongoing negotiations as increasingly constructive but reiterated that the United States would not compromise on preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.
“Our relationship with Iran is becoming a much more professional and productive one.
“They must understand, however, that they cannot develop or procure a Nuclear Weapon or Bomb.” - President Trump
The U.S. president also confirmed that the American blockade of the Strait of Hormuz would remain in place until a final agreement is concluded and formally certified.
Key Provisions Still Under Negotiation
Senior Trump administration officials later clarified that no agreement would be signed on Sunday, noting that negotiators were still resolving disagreements over sensitive wording in several sections of the proposed framework.
“There is still back and forth over certain parts of the deal, some words that are important to us and some words that are important to them,” a senior U.S. official told reporters.
According to the official, Iran’s internal approval process has slowed progress and may require several more days before a final decision is reached.
The official added that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, had reportedly approved the broad outline of the agreement, although uncertainty remains over whether that approval would translate into a finalized deal.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio earlier hinted that negotiations could soon produce “some good news” regarding the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important oil shipping routes.
Hormuz Blockade and Uranium Stockpile at Center of Talks
Under the proposed framework, U.S. officials say Washington is prepared to lift the Hormuz blockade as part of a broader settlement. In return, Iran has reportedly agreed in principle to dispose of its stockpile of highly enriched uranium.
However, American officials stressed that the current framework does not include the unfreezing of Iranian assets. They also warned that any attempt by Tehran to introduce toll charges on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz would be considered “unacceptable.”
Iranian officials, meanwhile, offered a more restrained assessment of the negotiations. The semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that Tehran and Washington remain divided over “one or two provisions,” while Fars News dismissed Trump’s optimistic portrayal of the talks as “far from reality.”
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian nevertheless reiterated Tehran’s willingness to reassure the international community over its nuclear intentions.
“We are ready to assure the world during any talks that we are not seeking nuclear weapons,” Pezeshkian said, according to Iranian media reports.
Israel Pushes for Tougher Stance
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had spoken with Trump about the ongoing negotiations and emphasized that any agreement must completely eliminate the possibility of Iran obtaining a nuclear weapon.
Sources familiar with discussions between Washington and Jerusalem said talks between Trump and Netanyahu have occasionally become tense, with the Israeli leader reportedly advocating a tougher approach toward Tehran while parts of the Trump administration continue pursuing a negotiated settlement and extension of the fragile ceasefire.
The proposed framework has also drawn criticism from several Republicans in the United States, who argue that the deal resembles the 2015 nuclear agreement negotiated during the administration of former President Barack Obama.
Trump strongly rejected those comparisons.
“It was a direct path to Iran developing a Nuclear Weapon,” Trump said of the Obama-era accord. “Not so with the transaction currently being negotiated with Iran by the Trump Administration — THE EXACT OPPOSITE, in fact!”
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