Trump says there is no rush for Iran deal, US blockade stays

President Donald Trump has signaled a deliberate pace in negotiations with Iran, asserting that his representatives are not to rush any potential deal. The U.S. blockade on Iranian ships in the Strait of Hormuz will persist "until an agreement is reached, certified, and signed," Trump wrote on Truth Social. He emphasized that "both sides must take their time and get it right."

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Both sides must take their time and get it right.

While Iran's government has not immediately responded, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that the U.S. is still impeding parts of a potential agreement, specifically Tehran's demand for the release of frozen funds. This comes after Trump had previously suggested that Washington and Iran had "largely negotiated" a memorandum of understanding to reopen the vital Strait of Hormuz, which handles a significant portion of global oil and LNG shipments.

Disagreements persist on several critical issues, including Iran's nuclear program, the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, and Tehran's demands for sanctions relief and access to billions of dollars in frozen oil revenues. A senior Trump administration official, speaking anonymously, informed reporters that an agreement would not be signed imminently, citing the slow pace of the Iranian system. However, the official outlined the current contours of the negotiations, stating that Iran had "in principle" agreed to open the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for the U.S. lifting its naval blockade and disposing of Tehran's highly enriched uranium. The official also suggested that Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei had endorsed the broad framework.

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The US blockade on Iranian ships in the Strait of Hormuz would remain in full force and effect until an agreement is reached, certified, and ‌signed.

Details remain scarce regarding the "in principle" agreement. The U.S. official indicated a phased approach, starting with reopening the strait and lifting the blockade, followed by more time-consuming negotiations on nuclear measures. Regarding Iran's enriched uranium stockpile, the official clarified that the issue is "a question about how" it will be handled, pushing back against suggestions that Iran has not accepted its disposal. A second administration official added that the proposed framework provides a 60-day window for negotiators to finalize a deal. Iranian sources have indicated that future stages could involve finding "feasible formulas" for resolving the dispute over the uranium stockpile, potentially including dilution under UN supervision. Iran has consistently denied pursuing nuclear weapons, asserting its right to enrich uranium for civilian purposes.

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It’s a question about how.