The United States has signaled that a potential agreement with Iran remains within reach, even as President Donald Trump cautioned against expecting an immediate breakthrough in negotiations aimed at ending months of regional tensions.
Speaking during an official visit to India, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington still believes diplomacy could produce positive results, although major issues remain unresolved. Rubio noted that negotiators had made progress on reopening critical Gulf shipping routes and reducing instability in the Middle East.
“We thought we might have some news last night, maybe today, but I wouldn’t read too much into it,” Rubio told reporters in New Delhi, adding that the US had placed “a pretty solid thing on the table” regarding maritime security and regional stability.
The diplomatic efforts come after weeks of indirect talks between Washington and Tehran following a ceasefire that began on April 8. The conflict, which escalated after joint US-Israeli strikes on Iranian targets in February, triggered retaliatory missile and drone attacks across the region and disrupted oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.
Despite signs of progress, Trump has attempted to lower expectations surrounding a possible agreement. In a post on Truth Social, the US president said he had instructed negotiators not to “rush” into a deal, emphasizing that “time is on our side.” He also stated that the US blockade on Iranian ports would remain in effect until any agreement is officially finalized and signed.
Trump further stressed that any deal reached with Iran must be “good and proper,” while acknowledging that negotiations were still incomplete.
Iranian officials have also confirmed that discussions are ongoing but insist that no final agreement has been secured. According to Iranian state-linked media, several key clauses remain unresolved, including the future of frozen Iranian assets and the timeline for sanctions relief.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian reiterated that Tehran is willing to assure the international community that it is not pursuing nuclear weapons. However, Iranian authorities indicated that detailed talks over uranium enrichment and nuclear activities could be postponed for up to 60 days after an initial agreement is reached.
The negotiations have drawn support from several regional powers, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, and Pakistan. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Islamabad hopes to host another round of talks soon after facilitating earlier face-to-face meetings between US and Iranian officials.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has maintained that any final agreement must completely eliminate what Israel views as Iran’s nuclear threat.
Financial markets reacted positively to signs of diplomatic progress. Oil prices dropped nearly five percent amid optimism that a settlement could eventually reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy shipping route. Brent crude and West Texas Intermediate both recorded significant declines as investors anticipated reduced supply disruptions in the region.
However, analysts caution that substantial obstacles remain before any formal agreement can be announced. US and Iranian negotiators continue to disagree on sanctions relief, uranium disposal, and long-term security guarantees. Senior American officials have also warned that diplomacy remains uncertain and that alternative measures are still being considered if talks fail.
For now, both sides appear committed to keeping negotiations alive, even as expectations are carefully managed amid ongoing regional tensions.
