U.S. and Iran Signal Progress Toward Possible War Pause
The United States and Iran appear to be moving closer to a possible agreement that could pause the conflict between them, though both sides continue to offer different accounts of what the emerging deal would include.
Officials from Washington, Tehran, and Pakistan, which has acted as an intermediary, said negotiations have advanced toward a written framework. A senior Trump Administration official said talks had made “substantial progress,” while Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said a memorandum of understanding “has never been closer.” Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also said negotiators had reached agreed text and were working to finalize it.
Despite those signals, disputes remain over the terms. President Donald Trump rejected a version of the agreement circulated by Iranian state media, saying it did not reflect the written terms under discussion. That version suggested Iran could regain access to frozen assets without fully ruling out future control over the Strait of Hormuz. Trump also accused Iran of targeting ships in the strait and warned Tehran to change course.
U.S. officials describe the proposal as a five-point, performance-based framework. Under that structure, Iran would receive economic benefits only after meeting specific obligations, including turning over nuclear material, dismantling certain nuclear facilities, and demonstrating regional stability. The administration says the deal would require Iran to commit indefinitely to not developing or acquiring nuclear weapons, with verification details still to be negotiated.
Iran has sought broader regional assurances, including limits on Israeli military operations involving Hezbollah in Lebanon. U.S. officials said the framework includes regional elements involving Lebanon, Israel, and Gulf states, but would not prevent Israel from defending itself.
The Trump Administration says it believes Israel could support the deal, despite Israeli concerns. Officials also said they believe most of Iran’s leadership backs the agreement, though some hard-line factions remain opposed. Final terms have not yet been announced.