Tehran insists no deal is possible without full guarantees of its rights, as both sides trade competing demands over nuclear weapons, frozen assets, and control of the Strait of Hormuz
Image: BBC
WASHINGTON/TEHRAN — Negotiations between the United States and Iran are showing little sign of progress, as deep mistrust and hardening positions on both sides push a deal further out of reach.
Iran’s chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf made clear that Tehran will not sign any agreement unless the rights of the Iranian people are fully upheld. He added that there is no trust in the enemy’s words and that tangible results must come before any commitments are made.
The talks stalled further after President Trump sent back a tougher revised proposal, demanding stricter guarantees over Iran’s nuclear programme and maritime security in the Gulf. Trump has insisted that preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and reopening the Strait of Hormuz are non-negotiable priorities.
Iran, however, has rejected US claims that any such agreement is close. Tehran is also demanding the release of approximately $12 billion in frozen assets as a condition for meaningful progress, while dismissing US assertions about its uranium stockpiles as baseless.
On the ground, the situation remains unstable. Despite a ceasefire reached in April, drone incidents and border tensions have continued. US officials have expressed concern that Iran is rapidly rebuilding its missile infrastructure, with satellite imagery confirming the reopening of previously damaged underground sites.
The fate of the Strait of Hormuz remains a key sticking point. While Washington wants guaranteed toll-free shipping, Iranian lawmakers are pushing for administrative fees and sovereignty over the waterway — a dispute that continues to unsettle global energy markets.
