Iran has stated that a deal to end the war with the United States is not imminent, despite recent progress in negotiations and growing optimism from U.S. officials. Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated that a deal with Tehran was still possible, emphasizing that President Donald Trump was 'not in a hurry' and would not rush into 'a bad deal.' Rubio noted that the U.S. has a 'pretty solid thing on the table' and that diplomacy would be given every chance before considering alternatives, though he did not elaborate on what those alternatives might be [1].
President Trump echoed this cautious stance, saying he would not 'rush into a deal,' which marked a step back from earlier, more optimistic statements from both U.S. and Iranian officials. Senior Republican lawmakers expressed concern about the emerging details of a possible memorandum of understanding, warning it could be a 'disastrous mistake.' A senior administration official clarified that 'the Iran agreement will not be signed today, but there has been progress on a deal' [1].
Iranian officials were less optimistic, with Ebrahim Rezaei, spokesman for the national security commission in the Iranian parliament, stating that Tehran does not 'bow to pressure and threats.' He suggested that Americans should negotiate if they want a deal or continue to 'bluff' if they want gas prices to reach $6 per gallon. Esmail Baghaei, spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Affairs Ministry, said the negotiations were focused on ending the war and not on the details of the nuclear issue at this stage. Baghaei also clarified that while conclusions had been reached on many issues, 'no one can claim that this means an imminent agreement is about to be signed.' He added that the agreement in the works does not detail management of the Strait of Hormuz, which he said should be left to its coastal states [1].
Tehran's effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz has significantly impacted global energy markets. However, oil prices fell more than $5 to two-week lows on Monday as optimism about a potential deal increased. The average gas prices in the U.S. also dropped slightly to $4.51. According to a senior administration official, the framework of a potential agreement would give both sides 60 days to reach a full peace deal, which is intended to 'deliver on President Trump’s priorities and ensure the United States and the region are safer and more prosperous going forward.' The agreement would also commit Iran to not developing a nuclear weapon [1].
CONCLUSION
While negotiations between Iran and the U.S. have made progress, both sides caution that a final agreement is not imminent. The market has responded positively to the prospect of a deal, with oil and gas prices falling, but significant uncertainties remain regarding the details and timing of any potential agreement.