U.S. President Donald Trump has requested further revisions to a proposed agreement with Iran, adding fresh uncertainty to diplomatic efforts aimed at extending a ceasefire and bringing an end to months of fighting.
The latest changes reportedly concern two of the most sensitive issues in the negotiations: the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the handling of Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium. The strategically important waterway has been a major point of contention because of its role in global energy shipments.
The draft agreement would extend the current ceasefire for 60 days and create a framework for renewed discussions over Iran’s nuclear programme. It could also allow Tehran to access billions of dollars in frozen assets if talks continue to make progress.
U.S. officials said earlier that Washington and Tehran had reached a preliminary memorandum of understanding, although the document still requires approval from both governments. Trump met senior advisers in the Situation Room on Friday to discuss the proposal but did not announce a final decision.
The president has repeatedly said that any deal must prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.
“The one guarantee that I have to have is that there will be no nuclear weapons. They’ve agreed to that, and it was very interesting,” Trump told his daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, during an interview on her Fox News programme.
Iranian officials, however, have played down suggestions that an agreement is close. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said reports surrounding the talks should be treated with caution.
“Until a clear conclusion is reached, everything that is being said now is speculation,” he said, according to Iranian state media.
Tehran has also called for frozen assets to be released before more detailed nuclear negotiations can proceed. Pakistan has been mediating between Iranian and U.S. officials throughout the talks.
The prospect of renewed military action remains in the background. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said during a visit to Singapore that Washington retained the ability to resume strikes if the proposed agreement failed to meet Trump’s expectations.
Although the ceasefire has remained in place since 8 April, the continuing revisions suggest that both sides still face difficult negotiations before a formal settlement can be reached.