White House Says Iran Deal Could Take Several More Days as Key Details Remain Unresolved
Why It Matters
A potential agreement between the United States and Iran to end the ongoing war carries significant consequences for global energy markets, regional security, and U.S. nonproliferation policy. Senior Trump administration officials say they are optimistic, but warn the outcome remains uncertain and that the deal could still collapse before it is signed.
The proposed framework would reopen the Strait of Hormuz — a critical chokepoint through which a substantial portion of the world’s oil supply flows — in exchange for the U.S. lifting its naval blockade of Iran. That alone would relieve significant pressure on global energy markets, regardless of whether a broader, lasting peace agreement follows.
What Happened
The White House signaled Sunday that a finalized agreement with Iran is not imminent, with a senior U.S. official telling reporters that Iran’s internal decision-making process — described as “slow and opaque” — could delay a resolution by several more days. The official said the Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has endorsed the broad framework of the deal, but cautioned that formal approval has not yet been secured.
“We are in a very good place — but there are ways in which the deal can be undermined,” the official said, acknowledging that specific language in the draft text remains contested by both sides.
President Trump, posting on Truth Social Sunday, urged his negotiating team not to rush. “Both sides must take their time and get it right,” Trump wrote, adding that the U.S. naval blockade would remain in place until any agreement is fully certified and signed. This follows Trump’s earlier statement that the deal was “largely negotiated.”
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran is prepared to reassure the international community that it is not developing nuclear weapons, but stressed that negotiators would not compromise on matters of national sovereignty or dignity. Iran’s state media separately accused the U.S. of creating obstacles in the talks.
By the Numbers
- ~2,000 kilograms — the total enriched uranium stockpile the Trump administration wants addressed in any final agreement
- 450 kilograms — the portion enriched to near-weapons-grade levels, which had previously been the narrower focus of discussions
- Several days — the White House’s estimated timeline before Iran’s leadership could formally approve a deal
- 0 dollars — the immediate sanctions relief Iran would receive under the draft framework; relief is tied directly to how much enriched uranium Iran surrenders
Nuclear Terms Still Being Negotiated
Under the emerging draft, Iran has agreed in principle to dispose of its enriched uranium stockpile, though the method of disposal has not been settled. Iran has also committed to discussing a moratorium on uranium enrichment, but the duration of any such moratorium remains unresolved.
The U.S. position ties sanctions relief directly to Iranian concessions: the more Iran surrenders in enriched uranium and enrichment capacity, the more economic relief it receives. “No dust, no dollars,” the senior official said, summarizing the administration’s stance.
Officials said Iranian domestic politics are complicating the final terms, particularly on enrichment — a matter tied closely to national identity and how the government presents any concessions to its own population.
Zoom Out
The emerging deal has drawn scrutiny from some Republican senators and conservative commentators, with critics drawing comparisons to the 2015 nuclear agreement negotiated under President Obama. Trump pushed back sharply, calling the Obama-era deal “one of the worst deals ever made” and characterizing his current approach as “THE EXACT OPPOSITE.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been kept informed throughout the negotiating process, according to the U.S. official, who said coordination between Washington and Jerusalem has been close. However, Israeli officials have expressed deep skepticism about the deal and concern over whether Iran’s supreme leader will ultimately approve it. In a call with Trump on Saturday, Netanyahu emphasized Israel’s right to act independently against threats on all fronts, including Lebanon. U.S. officials have separately indicated the two sides are close to a broader agreement to end the war.
Netanyahu said publicly that any final deal must result in the full dismantlement of Iran’s nuclear enrichment infrastructure and the removal of its enriched material from Iranian territory — a standard that goes beyond what the current draft framework appears to require.
What’s Next
Negotiators on both sides are expected to continue working through disputed language in the draft text over the coming days. The U.S. is pressing for a comprehensive commitment covering Iran’s full uranium stockpile, not just weapons-grade material, as part of any binding agreement. Whether Iran’s leadership formally endorses the framework — and on what timeline — will determine whether the deal advances or unravels.