Iran Says No Deal Imminent Despite Progress in Talks With U.S. in Qatar

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baqai said Tehran and Washington have reached “a conclusion on a large portion of the issues under discussion,” but warned that “the signing of an agreement is imminent” is something “no one can make.”

NBC News reported that President Donald Trump said negotiations were “proceeding nicely,” while also warning that fighting would resume “bigger and stronger than ever before” if talks fail.

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Both outlets tied the diplomacy to Qatar, where Iran’s top negotiators were described as arriving for ongoing efforts to secure a deal that would end the three-month war and restore shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

NBC News said Iran’s top negotiators included Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who arrived in Doha on Monday as part of the negotiations.

In parallel, the BBC reported that Rubio said he “might have some news last night. Maybe today,” even as Iran insisted the deal was not imminent.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters in New Delhi that a deal was still possible Monday, saying an agreement could be finalized “today,” while cautioning that if talks fail Washington would find “another way.”

The BBC described Rubio’s stance as holding out hope for Monday, quoting him saying “We thought we might have some news last night. Maybe today,” and warning “I wouldn’t read too much into it.”

Al-Bayadir as-Siyasi

NBC News reported that Trump warned negotiations were proceeding “nicely,” but also said he would not “rush into a deal,” after earlier public statements had suggested an announcement may be close.

NBC News added that Trump explicitly linked an Iran deal with the Abraham Accords, calling on nations in the region including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt and Jordan to join the agreements between Israel and some Arab neighbors.

The BBC reported that the reported deal split Trump’s Republicans, quoting Senator Ted Cruz calling it “a disastrous mistake” and quoting Roger Wicker saying a 60-day ceasefire would mean “everything accomplished by Operation Epic Fury would be for naught!”

The emerging framework described by NBC News would give the two sides 60 days to reach a full peace deal, with the senior administration official saying it would “deliver on President Trump’s priorities” and ensure the United States and the region are safer.

NBC News said the framework would commit Iran to not developing a nuclear weapon and to giving up the “nuclear dust,” while also getting the Strait of Hormuz “de-mined and back open for business.”

The BBC said the memorandum of understanding reportedly involves a 60-day ceasefire extension, reopening the Strait of Hormuz, and a plan for further negotiations over Iran’s nuclear programme.

NBC News reported that if the deal goes into effect soon, the 60-day window would push the next ceasefire deadline to late July or early August, keeping the war close to November midterm elections.

The BBC tied the stakes to global energy flows, noting that the Strait of Hormuz is the crucial waterway where “20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas passes,” and that Iran had been blocking it while the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports would remain “in full force and effect until an agreement is reached, certified, and signed.”