President Donald Trump said Sunday that he has instructed U.S. negotiators not to rush into a final agreement with Iran, even as the two sides weigh a preliminary framework that could reopen the Strait of Hormuz and ease immediate pressure on global energy markets.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said any deal must be completed carefully before the United States lifts its blockade on Iranian shipping, according to The Wall Street Journal.
“I have informed my representatives not to rush into a deal,” he wrote. “The U.S. blockade on Iranian shipping would remain in place until an agreement is reached, certified, and signed. Both sides must take their time and get it right.”
The statement came after a senior administration official described an emerging framework under which Iran would fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz to maritime traffic in exchange for the United States lifting its blockade on Iranian vessels. But the agreement remains preliminary, and major issues, including the future of Iran’s nuclear program, have not been resolved.
According to the official, Iranian leaders may need additional time to endorse even the basic outline. Among the unresolved questions are the economic benefits Tehran would receive under any durable cease-fire or broader agreement. Iran’s semiofficial Tasnim news agency reported that Tehran is seeking early sanctions relief and access to frozen assets, warning that failure to provide such relief could stall the talks.
The cautious tone marked a shift from Trump’s more optimistic comments a day earlier, when he suggested that a pact was nearing completion. Since then, statements from both sides and from regional intermediaries have pointed to significant remaining gaps.
Those uncertainties continue to affect energy markets and broader security calculations across the Middle East. Analysts said the current progress remains fragile.
“It feels like a breakthrough, but we’ve seen some of these points before and they always broke down once it got to competing interpretations of the details,” said Rory Johnston, founder of oil research firm Commodity Context.
The president has also said that he will not let Iran have nuclear weapons and told the public not to listen to “losers, who are critical about something they know nothing about.”
Israeli officials have expressed concern that the emerging memorandum of understanding could relieve pressure on Iran at a moment when the regime is vulnerable. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was expected to convene a security cabinet meeting to review the situation, with particular attention to a second phase of negotiations focused on Iran’s nuclear activities.
Gulf Arab states are also watching the talks closely. While they are eager to prevent further attacks on energy infrastructure and restore normal oil exports, they worry that the arrangement could strengthen Iran’s leverage over the Strait of Hormuz and encourage more aggressive behavior if U.S. forces reduce their regional posture.
A senior Trump administration official described the framework as giving the United States and the global economy “breathing room,” while emphasizing that no firm commitments have been made on unfreezing Iranian assets or providing initial sanctions relief.
Under the principles being discussed, Iran has agreed in concept to eliminate stockpiles of both high- and low-enriched uranium. But the timeline, verification procedures, and disposal methods remain unsettled. Iranian negotiators have signaled openness to a shorter suspension of uranium enrichment than the 20-year period sought by Washington, including possible dilution of higher-enriched material under regional oversight.
Trump has reassured Netanyahu that Israel retains the right to defend itself in all arenas, including Lebanon. But Israel is not directly involved in the U.S.-Iran talks, and Israeli officials have reportedly grown frustrated by what they view as limited consultation. They fear an initial agreement could constrain Israeli operations against Hezbollah.
The phased approach resembles earlier diplomatic efforts in the Gaza conflict, where an initial halt to fighting deferred more difficult questions involving disarmament and governance. Those issues have remained unresolved for months.
