Iran Confirms Progress in Talks, Emphasizes End to Imposed War and Sanctions Relief Amidst US Claims of Deal

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) — In a significant development, President Donald Trump claimed Saturday that a deal with Iran, including the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, has been “largely negotiated” following discussions with various regional allies. However, Iranian officials have provided a more nuanced perspective, emphasizing that while progress has been made, the focus remains on a “framework agreement” to end the “imposed war” and secure the lifting of oppressive sanctions.

Iran’s Stance: Framework for Peace, Not a Concluded Deal

Trump, without providing specific details or timing, stated on social media that “Final aspects and details of the Deal are currently being discussed, and will be announced shortly.” He mentioned conversations with leaders from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Bahrain, and separately with Israel. He described it as a “Memorandum of Understanding pertaining to PEACE” that still requires finalization by the United States, Iran, and other participating nations.

Crucially, there was no mention of Iran’s peaceful nuclear program or highly enriched uranium in Trump’s announcement, a point Iran has consistently maintained should be discussed separately, after the cessation of hostilities.

Regional Diplomacy and Narrowing Differences

Optimism has been growing among officials involved in the Pakistan-led mediation efforts. A regional official with direct knowledge of the closed-door deliberations, speaking anonymously, confirmed “significant progress” in talks aimed at ending the conflict, even as the U.S. had reportedly considered further aggressive actions against the Islamic Republic. The official cautioned that “last-minute disputes” could still pose challenges.

The potential agreement, as described, would include an official declaration of the war’s end, followed by two-month negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program. Critically, it would entail the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the termination of the illegal U.S. blockade of Iran’s ports – key demands from Tehran.

Earlier, other regional officials and a diplomat expressed hope for a final decision on the Pakistan-prepared draft within 48 hours. Iran, for its part, signaled “narrowing differences” following further talks in Tehran involving Pakistan’s army chief. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also acknowledged “some progress made,” hinting at potential news.

Despite the White House remaining silent on the negotiations, U.S. President Donald Trump spent Saturday out of public sight. Discussions within the White House and among Middle East allies reportedly revolve around a proposed 60-day ceasefire extension, with regional players divided on its efficacy.

Iran’s Firm Positions: End to Aggression and Sanctions

Both Iran and the U.S. have reiterated their core positions, warning against the resumption of attacks and disruption of the existing ceasefire. Rubio reiterated the U.S. stance that Iran “can never have a nuclear weapon” and “must turn over its highly enriched uranium,” while also demanding the Strait of Hormuz “must be open.”

However, Iran’s state TV quoted Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei describing the draft as a “framework agreement,” stating: “We want this to include the main issues required for ending the imposed war and other issues of essential importance to us. Then, over a reasonable time span, between 30 to 60 days, details are discussed and ultimately a final agreement is reached.” He confirmed the Strait of Hormuz is among the topics under discussion.

Baghaei further noted that “over the past week, the trend has been toward narrowing differences,” adding, “We will have to wait and see what happens over the next three or four days.” He explicitly stated that nuclear issues are not part of the current negotiations, as Tehran prioritizes ending the war before addressing its nuclear program, which has long been a source of international tension.

“Our focus at this stage is on ending the war on all fronts, including Lebanon,” Baghaei asserted, confirming that the lifting of sanctions on Tehran “has explicitly been included in the text and remains our fixed position.”

In a related development, the Iranian-backed Hezbollah’s Al-Manar TV reported that its leader, Naim Kassim, received a letter from Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, affirming Tehran’s unwavering commitment to its allies. This comes amidst a fragile, U.S.-brokered ceasefire in the Israel-Hezbollah conflict in Lebanon, which began shortly after the wider Iran war.

Iran’s Readiness and US Aggression

Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, who led historic face-to-face talks with the U.S. last month, declared that Iran has rebuilt its military assets and warned that any resumption of U.S. attacks would result in consequences “more crushing and more bitter” than at the war’s outset. His remarks followed a meeting with Pakistan’s army chief Asim Munir, who also met with Araghchi, President Masoud Pezeshkian, and other senior officials. Qatar also sent a senior official to Tehran in support of Pakistan’s mediation efforts.

Trump had previously claimed “serious negotiations” were underway, citing requests from Middle Eastern allies as a reason for holding off on military strikes against Iran. This follows a pattern of Trump setting deadlines for Tehran only to retract them.

The current conflict was ignited by U.S. and Israeli attacks on February 28, which abruptly halted nuclear talks with Iran. Tehran responded by effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for oil, natural gas, and fertilizer, causing significant global economic disruption. The U.S. then imposed an illegal blockade on Iranian ports, with the U.S. Central Command reporting that its forces had turned away over 100 commercial vessels and disabled four since the blockade began on April 13.

Magdy reported from Cairo and Lee from Washington. Associated Press writers Darlene Superville and Aamer Madhani in Washington and Bassem Mroue in Beirut contributed to this report.