President Donald Trump met advisers to consider a proposed deal to extend the Iran ceasefire and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, but no decision was reached and Tehran says the pact is not finalised
The US president convened senior national security advisers for a prolonged sit-down to weigh a proposed agreement that would extend the fragile pause in hostilities with Iran and address maritime access through the Strait of Hormuz. After roughly two hours in the White House Situation Room, no final decision was announced.
Tehran officials likewise described the talks as incomplete, reflecting the mutual caution that still defines this diplomatic moment.
White House sources said the president will only approve an arrangement that meets his stated conditions, including guarantees that Iran will never obtain a nuclear weapon and that the strait will be cleared and reopened.
Iranian spokespeople highlighted a reciprocal mindset: they want concrete action rather than promises before taking their own steps.
What the proposed memorandum would do
The outline under discussion reportedly aims to extend the existing ceasefire for about 60 days while negotiators enter a new round of talks over Iran’s nuclear programme.
Key provisions would require Iran to remove any mines from the Strait of Hormuz within a set timeframe and forbid Tehran from imposing tolls on transit through the waterway. In return, Washington would begin a phased easing of its maritime blockade of Iranian ports and relax some sanctions to permit increased oil sales.
Maritime security and verification steps
One proposal would involve coordinating the unearthing and destruction of a stockpile of nuclear material under international supervision. The US indicated that removal of the cache would be executed in cooperation with Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), with the declared intention to destroy the material. The arrangement would also enshrine rules to keep the strait open for international navigation.
Positions from Washington and Tehran
From the American side, the president reaffirmed his condition that Iran must categorically agree to never pursue a nuclear bomb. He reiterated demands for physical steps — clearance of mines, restoration of maritime traffic, and explicit safeguards on Iran’s nuclear activities. A senior administration official said the president will sign only a deal that satisfies his redlines and meaningfully constrains Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
Tehran’s reactions emphasized longstanding mistrust. Iran’s lead negotiator warned that the country places faith in actions rather than promises, making clear that reciprocal measures would be expected. A senior Iranian parliamentary security official echoed that any exchange would be transactional: cash for cash, credit for credit. Iran also listed additional asks — a truce with Hezbollah in southern Lebanon where clashes have continued, and release of frozen funds.
Public statements and political signaling
Officials on both sides used strong rhetoric. An Iranian spokesman said there is “no trust in guarantees or words” and stressed that no unilateral steps would be taken before the other side acts. In Washington, the vice president suggested negotiators were trying to lock in broad terms on the nuclear question while leaving detailed provisions for follow-up talks.
Technical realities and remaining hurdles
Inspectors have reported that Iran retains a substantial amount of enriched uranium — about 972 pounds enriched to roughly 60% purity — a level technically closer to weapons-grade than to lower enrichment levels. Iran insists its programme is peaceful and has not agreed publicly to relinquish the stockpile, which is believed to be stored under sites damaged in previous strikes.
Both sides face practical and political obstacles. Washington wants verifiable reductions of sensitive material and guarantees to prevent a weapons pathway. Tehran, mindful of recent military strikes against its facilities, is wary of guarantees that lack enforceable reciprocity. Negotiators must also reconcile regional security concerns, including hostilities between Israel and Iran-backed militias, and the role of neighboring states such as Oman in managing transit through the strait.
Next steps and diplomatic implications
For now the deal remains in limbo. US leaders returned to domestic deliberations without a signature, and Iranian officials publicly described the understanding as unfinished. If talks advance, they will require careful sequencing: trust-building measures on the waterway and nuclear verification, calibrated sanctions relief in exchange for demonstrable actions, and regional confidence-building to reduce the risk of renewed fighting. The outcome will shape maritime security, regional stability, and the trajectory of nuclear negotiations for the months ahead.
