US expects no Iran war deal Sunday, nuclear issue deferred

Published May 23, 2026 Last updated 56 minutes ago Reading time: 8 minutes

A senior US official stated at a press conference that the White House does not expect an agreement to end the war with Iran to be reached on Sunday, suggesting that the process of approving the agreement by the Iranian leadership could take several days, including the approval of Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, according to the Axios news website.

While US officials express optimism about the possibility of signing an agreement within days, they also acknowledge that the agreement is not yet finalized and the possibility of its collapse remains.

The agreement is expected to contribute to avoiding an escalation of the war and alleviating pressure on global oil supplies, but it remains unclear whether it will lead to a lasting peace agreement that also addresses US President Donald Trump's demands related to the nuclear file.

Trump had stated on the Truth Social platform, "Negotiations are proceeding in an organized and constructive manner," adding that he had informed the US team "not to rush into an agreement," and that "time is on our side."

Trump added, "The blockade will remain in full force and effect until an agreement is reached, adopted, and signed. Both sides must take their time and get it done right."

The US President stressed, "There is no room for mistakes! Our relationship with Iran has become much more professional and productive. However, they must realize that they cannot develop or possess a nuclear weapon or bomb."

Trump said, "I would like, to this moment, to thank all the Middle Eastern countries for their support and cooperation, which will be further strengthened by their joining the countries of the historic Abraham Accords, and perhaps, who knows, the Islamic Republic of Iran may also wish to join."

This comes at a time when Trump previously said that "a significant amount of negotiation has been completed" on a memorandum of understanding regarding a peace agreement with Iran that would lead to the opening of the Strait of Hormuz, as expectations grew that a turning point might be imminent in the three-month-old war, according to Reuters news agency.

Trump posted on social media that the looming agreement, mediated by Pakistan, would lead to the opening of the strait, a vital shipping lane whose closure has disrupted global energy markets since the United States and Israel launched the war on Iran in February. He did not mention what the agreement would include beyond that.

Trump wrote on the Truth Social platform: "The final aspects and details of the agreement are currently under discussion and will be announced soon."

Trump said, "An agreement has largely been reached, and it is subject to final approval between the United States of America, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and other mentioned countries."

Various American and Iranian media also reported that the proposed memorandum of understanding sets out a gradual framework for ending the fighting, opening the Strait of Hormuz soon, and lifting the US blockade on Iran.

Reports indicated that plans related to Iran's enriched uranium stockpile, which Washington insists it abandon, would be negotiated within 30 to 60 days.

This comes at a time when Trump confirmed to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that any agreement with Iran would include dismantling the nuclear program and transferring Tehran's enriched uranium stockpile, according to an Israeli official who spoke on condition of anonymity on Sunday.

The official said in a statement that during a phone call on Saturday evening, "President Trump clearly affirmed that he would be firm in negotiations regarding his long-standing demand for the dismantling of Iran's nuclear program and the transfer of all enriched uranium from Iranian territory, and that he would not sign a final agreement without these two conditions."

He added, "The United States is briefing Israel on the latest developments in the negotiations related to the memorandum of understanding to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and begin talks to reach a final agreement on outstanding disputed issues."

Netanyahu said he had a conversation with Trump last night, which covered the latest developments in the negotiations with Iran.

He wrote in a post on the X platform that the two sides agreed that "any final agreement with Iran must eliminate the nuclear threat."

He explained that this process includes the removal of "enriched nuclear materials" from Iran, as well as the dismantling of Tehran's nuclear enrichment facilities.

He added, "My policy, like President Trump's policy, has not changed: Iran will not possess nuclear weapons."

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian announced that his country "is ready to reassure the world" that it does not seek to possess nuclear weapons, according to official media.

He was quoted by the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) as saying in a post on the Telegram app: "Before the martyrdom of Ayatollah Khamenei, the late Iranian leader, we had announced, and we reiterate now, that we are ready to reassure the world that we do not seek to possess nuclear weapons."

He added, according to the agency, that Iran "does not wish to destabilize the region," considering that "the Israeli regime is the party seeking to destabilize the region."

He also stressed that Iranian negotiators would not "squander the country's dignity and honor."

This statement comes after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio hinted at the possibility that President Donald Trump would issue an announcement later today regarding the negotiations.

The semi-official Tasnim News Agency reported that the proposed memorandum of understanding between Iran and the United States stipulates that the number of ships capable of crossing the Strait of Hormuz will return to its pre-war level within 30 days.

The agency added that the naval blockade must be fully lifted within 30 days under the proposed memorandum of understanding, and that a portion of Iran's frozen funds should be released in the first phase.

The United States and Iran are seeking today, Sunday, to conclude a final agreement after announcing progress in their talks to end the war, with US President Donald Trump indicating that an agreement including the opening of the Strait of Hormuz has "come a long way."

According to American media, this agreement will allow ships to cross the Strait of Hormuz, vital to the global economy, and will also ease sanctions imposed on Iran. However, the thorny issue of Iran's nuclear program will be postponed to later negotiations.

CBS News, citing sources familiar with the discussions, reported that the latest proposal includes lifting the freeze on some Iranian assets in foreign banks and continuing negotiations for an additional 30 days.

The Wall Street Journal also reported similar information regarding this extension.

For its part, The New York Times quoted US officials as saying that the agreement under discussion does not resolve the issue of how Iran will dispose of its enriched uranium stockpile, which will be the subject of another round of negotiations "in the coming weeks or months."

The spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry stated on Saturday that Tehran is currently "in the stage of finalizing the framework of understanding" with Washington.

However, he pointed out that "this convergence does not necessarily mean that the United States and we will reach an agreement on important issues," noting that the nuclear file is not part of the agreement under discussion "at this stage."

Rubio hints at "good news" and confirms "significant progress" in the Iran file

On Sunday morning, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio hinted at the possibility of "good news" in the coming hours regarding the Strait of Hormuz, while confirming that diplomatic efforts to end the war with Iran have made "significant progress, but it is not yet final."

Rubio's statements came during a joint press conference with Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar in the Indian capital, New Delhi, where he stressed that the United States still prefers diplomatic solutions.

Rubio affirmed that US President Donald Trump has been clear in his position that Iran "cannot possess a nuclear weapon," describing the idea of Washington accepting an agreement that gives Tehran a stronger position on the nuclear file as "absurd."

In response to questions about military operations, Rubio said he would not discuss "military tactics" as they were outside his purview, explaining that the objectives of the US operation named "Epic Wrath" were to destroy the Iranian navy, undermine its ballistic missile launch capability, and damage its defense industrial base.

He added, "These were the objectives of Operation 'Epic Wrath,' and those objectives have been achieved," before concluding the press conference.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif expressed his hope on Sunday that his country would soon host the next round of peace talks between Iran and the United States.

Sharif, whose country has played a pivotal role in mediating between Washington and Tehran, said in a post on the X platform: "Pakistan will continue its peace efforts with all seriousness, and we hope to host the next round of talks very soon."

However, both sides are cautious, as the spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry stated that the issue of nuclear weapons would not be part of any initial proposals.

Meanwhile, Trump told CBS News, a US media partner of the BBC, that he had reviewed a draft agreement with Iran, insisting that any agreement would "definitively" prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

He said, "I will only sign an agreement where we get everything we want. Either we reach an agreement, or we reach a situation where no country is subjected to a harsh blow like the one it will receive."

The spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Esmail Ghaani, told state television on Saturday that American and Iranian positions have converged over the past week, but warned that this does not mean agreements will be reached on key issues, and accused the Americans of "contradictory statements."

According to Reuters, Ghaani said, "Our plan was to draft a memorandum of understanding, or an agreement, in the form of a framework, consisting of 14 articles."

Ghaani added that they are in the process of finalizing the memorandum, so that further talks can be held within 30 to 60 days, "and ultimately a final agreement can be reached."

Fluctuating US stance

The network quoted several sources as saying that some members of the US military and intelligence agencies had canceled their weekend plans, in anticipation of potential strikes.

It added that defense and intelligence officials had begun updating lists for the recall of US forces at overseas facilities, with rotating batches of troops stationed in the Middle East leaving the region, as part of efforts to reduce the US military presence in the region amid concerns of a potential Iranian response.

On Friday morning, President Trump gathered his closest advisors to discuss the war in Iran, according to Axios, while CBS indicated that no decision had yet been made.

Midday, Trump announced that he would not be able to attend his eldest son Donald Trump Jr.'s wedding in New Jersey, and would have to remain in Washington "for reasons of state affairs."

In contrast, the Iranian government reiterated that it "will never surrender to intimidation," while the Revolutionary Guard threatened to expand the scope of the war "beyond the region" in the event of a new US attack.

Iranian media quoted Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi as saying that despite "repeated betrayal" by the United States, Iran "participated in the diplomatic process with a responsible approach, and seeks to achieve a reasonable and just outcome."

The spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Esmail Ghaani, had confirmed on Friday that a delegation from Qatar, which has recently strengthened its role in mediation efforts, is also visiting Iran, and this delegation met with Araghchi.