International

IIE DIGITAL DESK ; Washington/Tehran, June 12: US President Donald Trump, planned military strikes against Tehran have been put on hold as negotiations advance. However, following Trump’s announcement, Iran has firmly stated that no final agreement has yet been approved, leaving the long-standing geopolitical tensions in West Asia still uncertain.

Journalists at the White House and also posting on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump claimed that discussions have reached the highest levels of Iran’s leadership and that a draft framework of the agreement has received widespread support. He further stated that the progress in negotiations was the reason behind the suspension of planned military action and bombing operations against Iran.

Trump, the proposed agreement includes extending the ceasefire period, reopening the Strait of Hormuz for international shipping, and initiating a 60-day negotiation phase on Iran’s nuclear programme. He suggested that an official signing of the agreement could take place within the coming days, and indicated that diplomatic meetings in Europe over the weekend could lead to further breakthroughs.

The US President also claimed that several countries including Israel, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Turkey, Pakistan, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, and Egypt had, in principle, agreed to key elements of the proposed memorandum of understanding. However, while Washington remains optimistic, Tehran has adopted a far more cautious stance.

Iranian media sources, no final draft of the agreement has yet been approved. Officials involved in the talks have stated that significant differences still remain on several critical issues, which must be resolved before any formal commitment can be made.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ismail Baghaei said that although most aspects of the draft have been discussed, no final decision has been taken. He added that differences still persist and that Iran will not compromise on its national interests or its defined “red lines.”

Some Iranian sources claim that recent negotiations have reduced the gap between the two sides. It is reported that Tehran may reconsider the latest proposal if certain conditions are met, particularly regarding the release of frozen Iranian assets, arrangements for maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, and progress on the future framework of nuclear negotiations.

Diplomatic sources indicate that intensive discussions were held on Wednesday between US and Iranian representatives with Qatar acting as a mediator. The late-night talks reportedly focused on narrowing remaining differences and building an acceptable framework for agreement.

The ongoing US-Iran conflict, which escalated earlier this year, has already created instability across large parts of West Asia, affecting regional security, global energy supplies, and international shipping routes. The Strait of Hormuz, a critical oil transit route, remains at the centre of negotiations.

Trump further stated that US naval control measures in the region will remain in place until a final agreement is signed and implemented. He also reiterated that any long-term settlement must ensure that Iran does not develop nuclear weapons capability.

While both sides acknowledge progress in talks, the gap between Washington and Tehran’s public positions highlights that several diplomatic hurdles still remain before a final resolution can be achieved. The coming days are expected to be crucial in determining whether the latest round of negotiations can lead to a lasting peace agreement.