Washington: Uncertainty continues to surround a proposed agreement between the United States and Iran after President Donald Trump concluded a high-level national security meeting without authorising a final deal, leaving the future of the fragile ceasefire and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz hanging in the balance.
The nearly two-hour meeting in the White House Situation Room brought together Trump’s top security and foreign policy advisers to assess a framework reportedly under discussion between American and Iranian negotiators. However, officials indicated that no final approval emerged from the deliberations.
According to administration sources, Trump remains unwilling to endorse any arrangement that fails to meet what he has described as his non-negotiable conditions, particularly restrictions aimed at preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons capabilities.
Nuclear Issue Remains Major Obstacle
At the centre of the negotiations is Washington’s insistence that Iran permanently abandon any pathway toward acquiring a nuclear weapon. Trump reiterated this position ahead of the meeting, publicly stating that Iran must commit to never possessing a nuclear bomb.
The US president has also renewed demands regarding Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium. Washington is reportedly seeking a mechanism under which the material would be secured and ultimately destroyed under international supervision.
The issue remains one of the most contentious aspects of the talks. Iran has consistently maintained that its nuclear programme is intended for peaceful purposes and has shown little indication of accepting demands related to dismantling its existing stockpile.
International monitors estimate that Iran possesses hundreds of kilograms of uranium enriched to levels significantly above those required for civilian energy production, bringing it technically closer to weapons-grade material.
Tehran Signals Continued Distrust
Iranian officials have responded cautiously to reports suggesting progress in negotiations.
Senior Iranian figures stressed that no agreement has been finalised and warned against interpreting ongoing discussions as a breakthrough. Tehran’s negotiators have repeatedly argued that past military actions by the United States and Israel have severely damaged trust between the two sides.
Iranian parliamentary and diplomatic officials have publicly maintained that future commitments will depend on concrete actions rather than assurances or promises.
The comments reflect the deep scepticism that continues to define relations between Washington and Tehran despite weeks of indirect engagement.
Strait of Hormuz Emerges as Key Focus
Alongside nuclear concerns, negotiators are also grappling with the future of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most strategically important maritime routes.
The proposed arrangement reportedly calls for the reopening of the waterway to unrestricted international shipping and the removal of naval mines that have disrupted commercial traffic. In return, the United States would gradually ease restrictions affecting Iranian ports and potentially provide limited sanctions relief, including measures enabling increased Iranian oil exports.
The closure and restricted use of the strait in recent months have had significant global consequences. Energy markets have faced volatility, while transportation costs and fuel prices have risen across several regions.
Before the conflict escalated earlier this year, roughly one-fifth of global oil and gas shipments passed through the narrow channel linking the Persian Gulf to international waters.
Although some commercial vessels continue to transit the route, shipping activity remains far below pre-conflict levels.
Additional Demands Complicate Negotiations
Iran is also pushing for broader regional considerations to be included in any eventual agreement. Officials in Tehran have reportedly sought guarantees related to ongoing hostilities involving Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, where tensions remain high despite ceasefire arrangements.
Another major demand involves access to Iranian financial assets frozen abroad under international sanctions.
These issues have added layers of complexity to talks that were already facing major disagreements over nuclear activities and maritime security.
Ceasefire Holding, But Fragile
The tentative framework under discussion is designed to extend the current ceasefire for an additional 60 days while negotiators attempt to resolve the more difficult questions surrounding Iran’s nuclear programme and regional security concerns.
Although large-scale fighting has been avoided since the ceasefire took effect several weeks ago, relations between the two countries remain tense. Both sides have repeatedly accused each other of violations and provocative actions, underscoring the fragility of the current arrangement.
For now, diplomacy remains alive but uncertain.
With Trump withholding final approval and Iran insisting that major differences remain unresolved, negotiators face a narrow window to bridge their differences before the ceasefire comes under renewed strain. The coming days are expected to be critical in determining whether the talks evolve into a formal agreement or collapse under the weight of unresolved disputes.
