What Is Still Blocking an Iran–U.S. Deal?
WANA (May 24) – Recent developments surrounding negotiations between Iran and the United States suggest less a path toward a final agreement and more a complex, multilayered process still burdened by major disagreements. While Tehran and Washington appear to have moved closer to a mutual understanding in certain areas, significant gaps remain on the most critical issues.
Contrary to the narrative promoted by some media outlets about an “imminent agreement,” accounts from sources close to the negotiations indicate that no final deal has yet been reached. From the Iranian perspective, the possibility of the talks collapsing is still considered entirely realistic.
The Three Main Obstacles in the Negotiations
According to information released by sources close to the Iranian negotiating team, the current disputes are centered around three primary issues:
1. The Nuclear File
According to Iranian sources, Tehran has not yet agreed to enter formal nuclear negotiations at this stage. Iran’s stated position is that the United States must first take a series of confidence-building measures before any discussions on nuclear matters can begin.
Within this framework, reports emphasize that:
- Iran has made no commitment regarding the transfer of its nuclear stockpiles.
- The closure of nuclear facilities has not been discussed.
- Claims by some media outlets about a 10- to 20-year suspension of Iran’s nuclear activities have been described as “false.”
- Nuclear-related discussions have been postponed to a 30- to 60-day period following an initial understanding.
Even regarding Iran’s 60% enriched uranium, sources close to the talks say the focus is more on “negotiating how it would be managed” rather than handing over or removing the stockpile from the country.
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2. Release of Frozen Iranian Assets
The release of Iran’s frozen financial assets has reportedly become one of Tehran’s most important conditions for continuing negotiations.
Sources close to the talks say Iran has insisted that part of these blocked funds must be released and made fully accessible in the very first phase of any agreement. Given Tehran’s past experiences and deep skepticism toward Washington’s commitment to honoring agreements, this issue has become especially significant.
Media outlets close to Iranian decision-making circles have quoted officials as saying: “Without the release of part of Iran’s financial resources, negotiations will not proceed at all.”
At the same time, some reports suggest there is discussion of temporarily easing sanctions on Iran’s oil, gas, and petrochemical sectors during the negotiation period — a move that could form part of the confidence-building package Tehran is seeking.
People chant during a rally in Tehran, Iran, May 6, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)
3. The Strait of Hormuz and Maritime Control
Another major point of disagreement concerns the Strait of Hormuz, where the two sides reportedly hold very different interpretations of what a “return to previous conditions” would mean.
According to Iranian sources:
- The United States is seeking a full restoration of previous shipping conditions in the waterway.
- Iran, however, insists that maritime traffic should operate under mechanisms approved by the Islamic Republic.
Official Iranian statements have also emphasized that security in the strategic waterway should be guaranteed through cooperation between Iran and Oman as the coastal states, while what Tehran describes as “hostile U.S. naval actions” must come to an end.
Initial Understanding: Real Agreement or Merely Crisis Management?
Some reports suggest Tehran and Washington may be moving toward an initial memorandum of understanding (MOU) — not aimed at fully resolving disputes, but rather at creating political breathing room and reducing tensions.
According to these reports, if such an understanding is finalized:
- Part of Iran’s frozen assets would be released.
- Restrictions on Iranian oil sales would be temporarily eased.
- Follow-up negotiations on the nuclear file would begin.
- A 30- to 60-day window would be established for further talks.
Nevertheless, Iranian sources stress that nothing has been finalized and that the core disagreements remain unresolved.
People walk past a billboard with a graphic design about the Strait of Hormuz on a building, amid a ceasefire between U.S. and Iran, in Tehran, Iran, May 4, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)
Tehran: Negotiations Are Fully Coordinated Within the System
Domestically, Iranian officials have also sought to project an image of complete unity within the country’s decision-making structure.
Recently, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated: “No decision will be made outside the framework of the Supreme National Security Council or without coordination with and approval from the Supreme Leader.”
These remarks appear to directly address speculation that the negotiations may be diverging from the Islamic Republic’s broader strategic policies — claims that sources close to the talks have described as “incorrect and based on misinformation.”
“Very Far, Yet Very Close”
Perhaps the most accurate description of the current state of negotiations came from Esmail Baghaei, who said: “An agreement is both very far and very close.”
The phrase captures the contradictory and complicated atmosphere surrounding the talks: signs of progress exist, yet deep mutual distrust continues to cast a heavy shadow over the process.
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At this stage, Tehran appears to be framing the negotiations not as a comprehensive settlement, but rather as a means of reducing tensions, unlocking financial resources, and easing security pressure — while simultaneously emphasizing that it remains fully prepared for the possibility of the talks failing.
What has emerged so far is that the two sides have not yet entered the phase of a final agreement, and serious disagreements remain even over the framework of an initial understanding.
Although there are indications that a temporary arrangement may be possible, the future of the negotiations still depends on three key factors:
- The extent of U.S. flexibility in implementing confidence-building measures
- The actual mechanism for releasing Iran’s frozen assets
- The ability of both sides to overcome decades of mutual distrust
Under these circumstances, the current negotiations appear less like a path toward a definitive agreement and more like an effort to manage the crisis and prevent tensions from escalating into a far more costly confrontation.
