Iran continues to dialogue with US, deal not done — diplomat

Lead

Iranian officials have publicly pushed back against suggestions that a deal with the United States is imminent, insisting that while talks continue, no final agreement has been reached. The statements come amid fluctuating signals from Washington, including threats of further military action and claims of progress in negotiations.

Coverage Comparison

Multiple outlets have reported on the state of US-Iran negotiations, with sources converging on the message that talks are ongoing but unfinished. Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmail Baghaei told state media on May 29 that a proposed agreement "has not been finalised," directly contradicting US President Donald Trump's assertion that his administration was making a "final determination" on a potential deal.

The discrepancy between Washington's characterization and Tehran's response has been a central focus of coverage. Al Jazeera described Iran's statement as "pushing back" on Trump's claim, while Russian state news agency TASS quoted Baghaei saying that "a final agreement has not yet been reached" even as "messages continue to be exchanged right now."

Earlier, on May 25, Baghaei had told state media that a "large portion" of issues with the US had been resolved, but cautioned that there were no guarantees Washington would honor an agreement and that a deal was not imminent. This more optimistic assessment was balanced by the caveat that trust in US commitments remains a significant concern for Iranian officials.

Key Claims

• Negotiations and exchanges of messages continue between the US and Iran; no agreement has been finalized. This is corroborated by multiple sources, including statements from both Iranian and US officials.
• Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned against trusting media reports on the talks until official results are announced. In comments carried by TASS, he said it is "premature to draw any conclusions" and that "everything being said at this point is merely speculative."
• US President Donald Trump has reportedly put forward tougher terms for a deal with Iran, according to The New York Times, as cited by TASS. This claim has not been independently confirmed by other sources in our review.
• Trump threatened to intensify attacks on Iran and said Washington would maintain "maximum pressure" to secure a deal, as reported by TASS citing Fox News and a senior White House official.
• Trump said he planned to make a final decision on whether to approve a preliminary agreement with Iran after a meeting with aides on Friday, according to TASS. This statement was made before Iran's foreign ministry pushed back on the notion that a final determination was imminent.

Perspectives

US officials, including President Trump, have projected confidence that a deal is close, with Trump telling reporters that "most of the deal's provisions have already been agreed upon." However, Iranian officials emphasize that unresolved issues remain and express skepticism about US reliability. Foreign Minister Araghchi's caution against speculation suggests that the Iranian side views public statements about a deal as premature.

Iranian media, as reflected in TASS's reporting, highlights the continuation of negotiations despite public posturing. The reference to Trump's tougher terms, if accurate, could indicate that the two sides are still negotiating the substance of a potential agreement, with significant gaps remaining.

The notion of a "final determination" by the US, as claimed by Trump, is directly contested by Iran's foreign ministry spokesman, who insists no final agreement has been reached. This fundamental disagreement underscores the fragility of the current diplomatic moment, where each side appears to be managing expectations for its own audience.

While the talks continue, the possibility of escalation remains present. Trump's reported threat to order new strikes on Iranian power plants and bridges, if carried out, would jeopardize the diplomatic channel. Yet White House officials say they are still seeking a deal through "maximum pressure," a strategy that mixes military threats with negotiation.

As the situation evolves, external observers should treat claims of a near-final deal with caution, given the conflicting statements from Tehran and Washington. The Iranian foreign ministry's insistence on official confirmation before drawing conclusions suggests that the public should be careful about reading too much into media reports or political statements.