TIMES International
Washington and Tehran played down expectations of an imminent breakthrough in efforts to end their three-month-old war on Monday, signalling that diplomacy could stretch further while tensions remain high over the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington would pursue a “good agreement” or confront Iran “in another way,” emphasising that any resolution must be carefully negotiated, reports Reuters.
President Donald Trump has instructed his representatives not to rush into a deal, reflecting Washington’s cautious approach despite the prospect of a memorandum of understanding aimed at reopening the strait and easing the US naval blockade.
Rubio described a “pretty solid thing on the table” for limited negotiations on nuclear matters and safe passage through the waterway but warned of the complexities ahead.
Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Monday that while consensus has been reached on several issues, the parties were far from signing an agreement.
He stressed that the potential framework, comprising 14 points, focuses on ending hostilities and the US blockade, while nuclear negotiations would follow over a 60-day period once the accord is accepted.
The proposed agreement leaves several sensitive matters unresolved.
Baghaei indicated that Iran would not levy tolls on ships transiting the strait, though fees could apply for services such as navigation and environmental protection under a protocol to be coordinated with Oman, which shares the opposite shore.
The strait has seen only minimal traffic since the conflict began on 28 February, down from around 125–140 daily vessel passages, triggering a spike in oil prices and broader energy and commodity disruptions.
Trump, facing domestic criticism over rising fuel, fertiliser, and food costs, has repeatedly highlighted the potential of a deal to end the war initiated by the US and Israel.
He argued on social media that any agreement would be “good and proper,” dismissing critics as uninformed.
Meanwhile, a fragile ceasefire has held since early April, temporarily halting US-Israeli strikes on Iranian targets that killed thousands.
The conflict’s broader regional impact has been severe.
Israel’s military operations in Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah, have killed thousands and displaced hundreds of thousands, while Iranian retaliatory strikes on Israel and neighbouring Gulf states have caused further casualties.
Oil markets responded cautiously to tentative optimism, with prices dropping five per cent to two-week lows on Monday amid speculation that diplomacy could gradually reopen the strait and stabilise supplies.
Nonetheless, major sticking points persist. Washington and Tehran remain divided over Iran’s nuclear ambitions, Israel’s war in Lebanon, sanctions relief, and the release of billions of dollars in frozen oil revenues held in foreign banks.
Iranian sources told Reuters that future negotiations could explore “feasible formulas” for managing the country’s highly enriched uranium stockpile, potentially including dilution under United Nations supervision.
Yet, with the framework accord still tentative, the timing and scope of nuclear discussions remain uncertain.
The memorandum of understanding is therefore best viewed as a tentative blueprint rather than a final settlement.
While it could pave the way for more structured negotiations on nuclear issues and maritime security, both sides appear prepared to continue posturing, leaving the broader conflict and economic disruption unresolved for now.
Rubio and Baghaei’s statements underscored a shared recognition that any misstep could escalate tensions further, reflecting the delicate balance of diplomacy, regional security, and domestic political pressures.
Analysts warn that reopening the strait, if successful, would stabilise energy markets and provide a rare diplomatic victory, but only if both sides commit to enforceable measures and avoid unilateral actions that could reignite hostilities.
