Agencies | Washington:
A day after US President Donald Trump announced that a peace agreement with Iran had been “largely negotiated,” he appeared to soften expectations on Monday, saying Washington would not rush into finalising a deal even as negotiations continue over ending the three-month conflict in the Gulf region.
Despite the optimism expressed earlier, the White House acknowledged that several critical issues remain unresolved.
Speaking publicly and posting on Truth Social, Trump said he had instructed negotiators “not to rush into a deal,” stressing that any agreement with Iran must be “solid and lasting” rather than hastily concluded.
“Both sides must take their time and get it right,” Trump said.
The US President also defended his administration’s diplomatic approach, describing the proposed agreement as fundamentally different from the 2015 nuclear deal negotiated under former President Barack Obama.
Trump again criticised the Obama-era accord, calling it “one of the worst deals ever made” and claiming it had provided Iran with a pathway toward developing nuclear weapons. He insisted the current negotiations were “the exact opposite.”
Hormuz Blockade to Continue
Trump confirmed that the US naval blockade on Iranian shipping around the Strait of Hormuz would remain fully operational until a formal agreement is completed.
The blockade, imposed in April 2026, has severely restricted Iranian commercial and military shipping near key ports linked to the strategic waterway.
“Full force and effect” would continue until the agreement was “reached, certified, and signed,” Trump said.
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most critical energy corridors, with nearly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments passing through it before the conflict erupted.
The restrictions have triggered growing concerns over global energy supplies and rising oil prices.
Key Issues Still Under Negotiation
According to Axios, US officials said negotiators were still working through several disputed points and that a final agreement could take days to complete.
A senior Trump administration official reportedly said no immediate signing was expected because Iran’s decision-making process remained “slow and opaque.”
“There is still back and forth on specific details. Some words we care about, some words they care about,” the official was quoted as saying.
The White House believes Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has broadly endorsed the framework under discussion, though there has been no formal confirmation from Tehran.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran was prepared to reassure the international community that it was not seeking nuclear weapons, but added that Iran would not compromise on its “honour and dignity.”
Iran-linked Tasnim News Agency accused Washington of creating obstacles in the negotiations, particularly regarding Tehran’s demand for the release of frozen Iranian funds held overseas.
Proposed Framework Includes Ceasefire, Uranium Curbs
According to US officials, the proposed framework includes reopening the Strait of Hormuz and gradually easing maritime restrictions.
The draft agreement reportedly proposes:
- A 60-day ceasefire
- Phased reopening of shipping routes
- Gradual lifting of the US naval blockade
- Restrictions on uranium enrichment
- Disposal or dilution of Iran’s highly enriched uranium stockpile under international supervision
US officials claimed Iran had agreed “in principle” to reopen the strait in exchange for easing American restrictions on maritime activity.
The Trump administration is also pushing for comprehensive controls over Iran’s estimated 2,000-kilogram stockpile of enriched uranium.
Possible options under discussion reportedly include diluting enriched uranium under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Negotiators are also debating the duration of any moratorium on uranium enrichment.
“We want to see a substantial commitment to forgo enrichment,” a US official said.
Criticism Mounts in Washington
The emerging agreement has drawn criticism from both Republican and Democratic lawmakers in the United States.
Critics argue that parts of the framework resemble the 2015 nuclear agreement that Trump withdrew from during his first term in office.
Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen described the reported framework as “the pre-war status quo.”
Trump also pushed back against criticism from conservative allies who oppose negotiations with Tehran, insisting that any final agreement would be “a good and proper one.”
Energy Crisis Deepens
The continuing conflict and shipping restrictions around the Strait of Hormuz have intensified the global energy crisis.
Oil, fuel, fertiliser, and food prices have surged worldwide since fighting began between the US, Israel, and Iran on February 28.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards claimed only 33 vessels crossed the Strait of Hormuz in the last 24 hours after receiving Iranian approval. Before the conflict, roughly 140 vessels passed through the route daily.
An Iranian military adviser also stated that Tehran retained the legal right to regulate traffic through the strategic waterway.
Industry officials warned that normal commercial shipping through Hormuz may not fully resume before 2027.
The war has already killed thousands in Iran and Lebanon, displaced hundreds of thousands of civilians, and triggered retaliatory strikes across the region.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remains engaged in consultations with Washington over the proposed agreement.
US officials said coordination between Washington and Israel remained “quite close,” although Israeli officials reportedly remain sceptical about whether Iran’s leadership will ultimately approve the deal.
