Washington and Tehran moved closer to a possible framework aimed at lowering military tensions and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, after President Donald Trump said a peace understanding had been “largely negotiated” while Iran indicated that major gaps still needed to be closed.
The diplomatic push gathered pace over the weekend as regional mediation intensified, with Pakistan playing a visible role alongside contacts involving Gulf states and other Middle Eastern governments. Trump said final details were still being worked through and described the emerging arrangement as a memorandum of understanding linked to peace and maritime access. Tehran’s response was more guarded, stressing that any agreement would have to respect Iran’s sovereignty, address sanctions, and avoid terms that could be presented as capitulation.
At the centre of the talks is the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy corridors. Before the latest disruption, more than a quarter of global seaborne oil trade and around one-fifth of liquefied natural gas flows passed through the waterway. Any sustained interruption raises costs for import-dependent economies, affects shipping insurance, and adds pressure to fuel markets already unsettled by conflict risks across the Gulf.
US officials have linked any understanding to guarantees that Iran will not acquire a nuclear weapon and that maritime movement through the strait will be restored without coercive conditions. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has maintained that Washington’s position remains anchored in nuclear restraint, regional de-escalation, and free navigation. Iran says its nuclear programme is for civilian purposes and has insisted that sanctions relief, access to frozen funds, and an end to military pressure must be part of any durable settlement.
The latest diplomatic activity follows months of escalating confrontation. A fragile ceasefire has reduced direct hostilities, but both sides have kept military options in view. Trump has warned that force could return to the table if negotiations fail, while Iran has said any fresh attack would trigger a stronger response. That combination has left negotiators working under pressure from energy markets, regional governments, and domestic political constituencies in both countries.
A possible framework is understood to involve phased steps rather than a single comprehensive settlement. Initial provisions could focus on extending the ceasefire, reopening maritime routes, easing pressure on Iranian ports, and setting a timetable for more detailed talks on nuclear and security issues. More difficult questions, including the future of Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile, inspection access, sanctions relief, and guarantees against renewed attacks, remain unresolved.
Iran’s nuclear programme continues to shape the talks. International monitoring has found that Iran accumulated uranium enriched up to 60 per cent, far above the level used for civilian power generation and below weapons-grade material. That has deepened concern in Washington, Israel, and European capitals, while Tehran argues that its advances came after years of sanctions pressure and the collapse of earlier diplomatic arrangements.
Regional diplomacy has become central to preventing another round of conflict. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and army chief Gen Syed Asim Munir have been involved in mediation efforts, while Gulf governments have strong incentives to avoid a prolonged disruption to shipping and energy flows. Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, and the UAE would all face economic and security risks from a wider confrontation, even as they maintain different channels with Washington and Tehran.
Israel remains a key factor in the calculations. Its security establishment has long viewed Iran’s nuclear and missile capabilities as strategic threats, and any agreement seen as leaving Tehran with significant enrichment capacity could face criticism from Israeli officials and US Republicans. Trump also faces scrutiny from hawkish allies who fear that a limited peace framework may postpone rather than resolve the nuclear dispute.
