Iran-US negotiations show progress but remain far from a deal as ceasefire faces expiry
Iran-US negotiations have shown "progress" but remain distant from a final agreement, Iran’s parliament speaker said, as the ceasefire is due to expire on Wednesday.
Ghalibaf signals progress while warning of major gaps
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran’s parliament speaker and chief negotiator, told a nationally televised audience that talks with the United States have advanced but are not close to resolution.
He said many gaps remain and that several fundamental points are still unresolved, underlining that negotiators are “still far from the final discussion.”
Ghalibaf added that Iranian forces were "fully prepared" for the possibility that the United States could resume hostilities at any moment.
President Pezeshkian rejects limits on Iran’s nuclear rights
President Masoud Pezeshkian publicly disputed U.S. demands on Iran’s nuclear activities, saying Washington could not justify depriving Tehran of what he called its “nuclear rights.”
Quoted by the Iranian Student News Agency, Pezeshkian challenged the legitimacy of barring Iran from activities it considers lawful, framing the dispute as a core sticking point in the negotiations.
The question of nuclear rights has persisted as a central fault line between the two sides, complicating efforts to reach a broader arrangement.
Strait of Hormuz used as bargaining leverage
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced renewed restrictions on the Strait of Hormuz less than a day after reopening the waterway, citing an ongoing U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports.
Tehran’s move to reimpose limits followed comments from negotiators who warned the country would not allow third-party transit if its own shipping remained blocked.
Analysts in Tehran say the strait — through which some 20 percent of global seaborne oil normally transits — has become a crucial leverage point in the Iran-US negotiations.
Diplomatic deadlock after Islamabad talks
A first round of mediated talks in Islamabad ended on April 12 without a deal, and mediators had urged a second round to sustain momentum.
Iran’s deputy foreign minister said no new date could be agreed until the two sides establish a basic framework of understanding, accusing Washington of a maximalist posture.
That diplomatic impasse has left both capitals publicly signaling openness to dialogue while privately maintaining hardened positions.
Mixed signals from Washington and threats of renewed force
U.S. President Donald Trump issued a string of mixed statements, warning that the United States would not be “blackmailed” and that it might resume military action if no agreement is reached.
His remark that Washington might “have to start dropping bombs again” if the ceasefire lapses added urgency and alarm to the negotiations.
White House officials, however, also said contacts with Iranian counterparts continue and described the talks as “working out,” reflecting a contrast between public rhetoric and diplomatic engagement.
Strategic and economic stakes for the region and beyond
Observers note that any disruption to traffic through the Strait of Hormuz would have immediate implications for global energy markets and maritime security.
Iran’s decision to leverage the strait increases pressure on mediators and raises the cost of stalled diplomacy for regional neighbors and oil-importing nations.
Analysts also highlight a “dual track” reality: Tehran is pursuing negotiation while using military and economic measures to strengthen its bargaining position.
The coming days will test whether back-channel diplomacy can close outstanding gaps or whether rising tensions around the Strait of Hormuz and renewed threats of force will push the parties back toward conflict.
