Washington DC: US President Donald Trump on Friday (local time) stopped short of announcing a breakthrough in negotiations with Iran, leaving a potential agreement to end months of tensions unresolved after a two-hour meeting with senior national security officials at the White House.
The high-level discussions in the Situation Room came amid continued disagreements over Iran’s nuclear activities, the future of the Strait of Hormuz and the release of frozen Iranian assets.
According to a White House statement, Trump remains committed to securing an agreement that aligns with US interests and prevents Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.
“The Situation Room meeting has concluded and lasted approximately two hours. President Trump will only make a deal that is good for America and satisfies his red lines. Iran can never possess a nuclear weapon,” a White House official said.
Ahead of the meeting, Trump had indicated that he was prepared to make a final decision on the next phase of negotiations. However, no agreement was announced, suggesting that significant gaps remain between Washington and Tehran.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump outlined several conditions under discussion, including the removal of mines from the Strait of Hormuz, the lifting of US naval restrictions and the destruction of Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium. He also dismissed reports suggesting that Washington was prepared to release billions of dollars in frozen Iranian funds as part of an initial agreement.
“No money will be exchanged, until further notice,” Trump wrote.
Iran Says Talks Are Continuing
Iranian officials, meanwhile, said negotiations remain ongoing and denied that a final agreement had been reached.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei told state broadcaster IRIB that Tehran’s immediate priority remains ending the conflict rather than discussing technical aspects of its nuclear programme.
“Our focus at this stage is on ending the war,” Baghaei said, adding that discussions on uranium enrichment and nuclear stockpiles had not yet entered detailed negotiations.
Baghaei also rejected suggestions that outside powers could dictate the future management of the Strait of Hormuz, saying decisions regarding the strategic waterway involve only Iran and Oman.
The comments reflect Tehran’s firm stance as both sides continue exchanging messages through diplomatic channels.
Several senior Iranian figures have publicly expressed skepticism about Washington’s intentions.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Tehran would not rely on diplomatic assurances and insisted that pressure, rather than negotiations, had produced results.
“We do not gain concessions through dialogue, but through missiles,” Ghalibaf wrote on social media.
Similarly, Ebrahim Azizi, chairman of the Iranian parliament’s National Security Commission, suggested any agreement must involve reciprocal concessions, declaring that Iran would accept “nothing for nothing.”
Major Issues Still Unresolved
At the center of the negotiations is Iran’s growing uranium stockpile. Washington is pushing Tehran to halt uranium enrichment and transfer existing enriched material out of the country.
According to international monitoring reports, Iran possesses more than 440 kilograms of uranium enriched up to 60 percent purity, placing it a short technical step away from weapons-grade levels.
The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz remains another major sticking point. The waterway handles roughly one-fifth of global oil shipments, making its stability critical for international energy markets. The United States has sought the removal of mines and the full restoration of commercial shipping traffic.
Iran is also reportedly seeking access to billions of dollars in frozen assets held overseas. Iranian media reports have suggested Tehran wants an initial release of approximately $12 billion as part of any framework agreement, although no official figure has been confirmed.
Another key demand from Tehran is a guarantee that any future agreement will be honored by Washington. Iranian leaders remain wary after the United States withdrew from the 2015 nuclear accord during Trump’s first term.
Iran has additionally linked broader regional security issues to the negotiations, including calls for a ceasefire involving Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement in Lebanon.
Fragile Ceasefire Under Pressure
The diplomatic effort follows a fragile ceasefire reached on April 8 after weeks of military escalation between the United States and Iran.
Despite the truce, both sides have continued accusing each other of violations, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz. Recent US strikes targeting military facilities near Iran’s southern port city of Bandar Abbas were followed by retaliatory Iranian attacks, raising concerns that the conflict could reignite if negotiations collapse.
For now, diplomats on both sides appear to be keeping channels open, but Trump’s decision to delay a final call underscores the significant obstacles that remain before any agreement can be reached.
