Iran Says No Deal With US Is Close as ‘Deep and Serious’ Differences Remain
Foreign Ministry spokesman cautions that diplomacy takes time, as nuclear file is set aside due to “excessive American demands” and both sides remain at odds over uranium and the Strait of Hormuz.
TEHRAN — Iran’s Foreign Ministry on Friday firmly pushed back against suggestions that a final agreement with the United States to end the war is imminent, declaring that the two sides are “not close” to a deal and that differences remain “deep and serious” .
“We cannot necessarily say that we have reached a point where an agreement is close,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei told state-run IRIB TV . “Diplomacy is a process that takes time. Both sides are only conveying their own viewpoints” .
The remarks came just one day after Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledged only “slight progress” in the talks, warning that while there had been “a little bit of movement,” the United States is “not there yet” .
‘Deep and Serious’ Differences Persist
Baghaei described the gap between Washington and Tehran as substantial, shaped by “events over the past two to three months” . He stressed that the presence of senior Pakistani officials in Tehran—including Pakistan’s Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi—should not be mistaken for a breakthrough .
“The ongoing process and the senior Pakistani officials’ presence in Tehran do not mean that we have reached a turning point or determining situation,” Baghaei said, according to the state-run IRNA news agency .
Despite the cautious tone, he acknowledged that the talks have reached a “critical situation” or “turning point,” given the intensity of diplomatic engagement . Pakistan has been shuttling messages between the two capitals, with Munir making his second trip to Tehran in recent weeks .
Nuclear File Set Aside Over ‘Excessive American Demands’
In a significant development, Baghaei confirmed that detailed discussions on Iran’s nuclear program have been “set aside entirely” at this stage due to what he described as “excessive American demands” .
He explained that Tehran’s focus remains solely on ending the war across all fronts—particularly in Lebanon and at the Strait of Hormuz . “The focus of the negotiations is on ending the war. Details related to the nuclear issue are not being discussed at this stage,” he said .
Iranian officials have signaled that the topic of the country’s enriched uranium stockpile—estimated at approximately 440 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60 percent—may be postponed until later stages of negotiation . Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi earlier described the issue as a “deadlock” that has been temporarily set aside .
| Issue | Iran’s Position | US Position |
|---|---|---|
| Enriched Uranium Stockpile | Will not send abroad; Supreme Leader has reportedly prohibited removal | Must be transferred out of Iran and destroyed |
| Uranium Enrichment | Asserts right to peaceful enrichment under NPT | Demands long-term suspension |
| Strait of Hormuz | Maintains control; considers it a strategic asset | Demands immediate reopening without tolls |
| Sanctions Relief | Demands phased relief as negotiations proceed | Relief tied to full agreement |
The impasse follows a Reuters report earlier this week that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, has issued a directive instructing that the country’s enriched uranium “should not leave the country,” effectively rejecting a key US demand .
President Donald Trump, for his part, has been unequivocal: “No, we get the highly enriched; we will get it. We don’t need it. We don’t want it. We’ll probably destroy it after we get it, but we’re not going to let them have it” .
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also insisted that hostilities cannot end unless Iran’s enriched uranium is removed from its custody, along with a halt to its support for regional proxy groups and the dismantling of its ballistic missile infrastructure .
Reports of a Draft Agreement
Despite Iran’s denials, reports have emerged of a possible draft framework. Al Arabiya, citing informed sources, reported on Friday that a potential agreement would include nine clauses: an immediate, comprehensive and unconditional ceasefire; guarantees against targeting military, civilian, or economic infrastructure; respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity; freedom of navigation in the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz; and the establishment of a joint monitoring mechanism .
Baghaei, however, did not confirm the existence of any finalized draft. He reiterated that the talks remain focused on ending hostilities and that no agreement is imminent.
US Official: ‘Slight Progress’ but No Breakthrough
Speaking on the sidelines of a NATO foreign ministers’ meeting in Helsingborg, Sweden, Secretary of State Marco Rubio offered a measured assessment, acknowledging “slight progress” while cautioning against raising expectations .
“There’s been some progress. I wouldn’t exaggerate it. I wouldn’t diminish it,” Rubio told reporters. “There’s more work to be done. We’re not there yet” .
Vice President JD Vance reinforced the administration’s dual-track approach: “We’re locked and loaded. We don’t want to go down that pathway, but the President is willing and able to go down that pathway if we have to” .
Pakistan’s Mediation Role Intensifies
Pakistan remains the central mediator in the indirect talks. Field Marshal Asim Munir, Pakistan’s army chief, departed for Tehran on Friday for discussions with senior Iranian officials . It is his second such trip in recent weeks.
Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has been in Tehran for the past two days as part of the messaging exchange between Washington and Tehran . Islamabad secured the April 8 ceasefire and hosted the only round of direct talks between the two sides on April 11-12—the highest-level engagement since 1979 .
A ‘Turning Point’ Without a Deal
Baghaei described the current moment as a “turning point” or “critical situation” due to the intensity of diplomatic activity . “The current process and the fact that senior Pakistani officials are staying in Tehran mean that we have reached a turning point, or a critical situation,” he said .
But he cautioned against interpreting this as a sign of imminent agreement. “It cannot be said that with a few visits over a few weeks or months we will reach a conclusion,” he said .
As mediators continue their work and both sides hold firm on their core demands, the window for diplomacy remains open—but narrow. Whether the coming days produce a breakthrough or a return to military confrontation remains uncertain.
“If we try to dig too deeply into the details of Iran’s highly enriched uranium, we will never reach a conclusion, or an agreement,” Baghaei said .
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: Has a final agreement been reached between the US and Iran?
A: No. Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman confirmed that the two sides are “not close” to an agreement and that differences remain “deep and serious” .
Q2: Are nuclear issues being discussed in the current talks?
A: No. Baghaei confirmed that detailed discussions on Iran’s nuclear program have been “set aside entirely” at this stage, with the focus instead on ending the war across all fronts, including in Lebanon and at the Strait of Hormuz .
Q3: What is Iran’s position on its enriched uranium stockpile?
A: Iran has reportedly rejected the US demand to send its stockpile of highly enriched uranium (estimated at 440 kilograms) abroad. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei is said to have issued a directive that the uranium “should not leave the country” .
Q4: What role is Pakistan playing in the negotiations?
A: Pakistan is the primary mediator. Its army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, traveled to Tehran on Friday for discussions, and its interior minister has been in Tehran for several days shuttling messages between the two sides .
Q5: Has the US offered financial concessions to Iran?
A: According to a report by ABC correspondent Alex Marquardt, the latest US proposal includes significant financial concessions, including economic funds for damages, waivers on oil sales, gradual unfreezing of assets, and sanctions relief—with the most difficult issues, including nuclear enrichment, postponed to final negotiations .
Q6: What happens if the talks fail?
A: President Trump has warned that he is prepared to take military action. Vice President JD Vance has stated that the US is “locked and loaded.” Senator Roger Wicker, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, has called for a return to military action to “finish the mission” .
This is a developing story. Reflecto News will continue to provide updates on US-Iran negotiations, the mediation efforts by Pakistan, and the status of the ceasefire.