Iran has not yet accepted a US proposal intended to end the ongoing conflict, with officials in Tehran signalling that significant differences remain despite reports suggesting negotiations are advancing.
Speaking on Wednesday, Esmail Baghaei said the American plan was still under review. Another Iranian official, Ebrahim Rezaei, dismissed the proposal as closer to a “wish-list” from Washington than a realistic agreement.
The remarks followed reports in US media, citing unnamed officials, that both sides were nearing a deal built around a short memorandum designed to halt the war.
However, Donald Trump appeared more restrained in his own public comments, cautioning that negotiations with Iran have previously seemed close to success before breaking down unexpectedly.
In a social media statement, Trump warned Tehran that military operations could quickly intensify if no agreement is reached. He said US strikes would resume at a significantly greater scale should diplomacy fail.
The latest diplomatic push comes after Washington suspended “Project Freedom,” the naval mission launched to escort commercial vessels stranded in the Strait of Hormuz during the conflict.
The operation had been intended to secure one of the world’s most important shipping corridors amid growing instability in the Gulf.
Reports indicate that the emerging proposal between the United States and Iran could take the form of a one-page memorandum establishing a 30-day negotiation window.
Discussions are expected to focus on Iran’s nuclear programme, sanctions relief, and maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz.
Foreign policy analysts, however, warn that the issues at the centre of the negotiations are far more complex than a brief framework document may suggest.
Holly Dagres said the Trump administration is unlikely to consider any agreement sufficient unless Iran directly addresses concerns surrounding its nuclear activities.
Dagres also questioned whether a 30-day timetable would be realistic given the technical and political challenges involved.
She pointed to the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) — the nuclear agreement abandoned by the first Trump administration in 2018 — noting that it stretched across roughly 150 pages and included detailed technical provisions.
Questions also remain about the suspension of Project Freedom and whether easing tensions in the Strait of Hormuz will ultimately encourage compromise or strengthen Iran’s leverage.
A former senior Pentagon official told the BBC that a successful memorandum could help reopen maritime traffic and move the conflict toward resolution. But if negotiations collapse, the official warned, Tehran may emerge emboldened.
Trump himself acknowledged uncertainty surrounding the talks during a brief interview with PBS, saying he had previously believed agreements with Iran were close before negotiations unravelled.
The conflict has shifted rapidly in recent days. Earlier in the week, US strategy appeared focused on challenging Iran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz, while diplomatic efforts remained secondary.
Attention has now turned back toward negotiations, with mediators from Pakistan reportedly optimistic that a breakthrough may still be possible.
Iranian officials, however, continue to project caution, suggesting that substantial gaps remain between the two sides.
