Lead
The outline of a potential US-Iran agreement is beginning to emerge, but major questions remain, from how the Strait of Hormuz would reopen to the future of Iran's nuclear program.
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly suggested a deal is close, saying an agreement was "largely negotiated," before adding on Sunday, local time, that negotiations were "proceeding in an orderly and constructive manner." But Iran's semi-official Tasnim News Agency reported that key clauses of a possible agreement remained unresolved.
Here's what we know about the major sticking points.
Coverage comparison
Reporting on the status of the negotiations reflects a mix of optimism and caution. Africa News highlighted progress, noting that Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman said Monday a "large portion" of obstacles to an agreement with the United States had been resolved, but said it was too soon to say a deal was ready to be signed. The same report quoted US President Donald Trump saying negotiations were "proceeding in an orderly and constructive manner."
Deutsche Welle's coverage was more measured, describing the deal as "close but still 'subject to finalization'" and giving prominent place to Iran's dismissal of Trump's claims as "incomplete and inconsistent with reality." ABC Australia took a similar neutral stance, emphasizing the uncertainty surrounding the agreement and the unresolved details, including the strait and Iran's nuclear program.
While Africa News framed the situation in a positive light, citing progress and the potential easing of a worldwide energy crisis, both ABC Australia and Deutsche Welle highlighted the significant gaps that remain between the two sides.
Key claims
The Strait of Hormuz remains the central sticking point
One of the biggest unresolved issues is the future of the Strait of Hormuz, the critical shipping route for roughly a fifth of the world's oil trade. Iran has effectively controlled the strait since the war began in late February, allowing only a trickle of vessels to pass through and triggering a worldwide energy crisis.
Mr. Trump said on Saturday that "the Strait of Hormuz will be opened" as part of any agreement. But Iranian media reports suggest Tehran is not prepared to relinquish oversight of the waterway after launching the Persian Gulf Strait Authority last week. Fars News Agency, which is linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, reported that any deal would preserve Iran's management role in the strait, while Tasnim said the waterway would not return to its "pre-war situation."
Tasnim also reported that any US naval blockade on Iranian ports would need to be lifted within 30 days.
Even if a formal reopening were announced, shipping is unlikely to resume as usual, international bodies say. Commercial operators will first need to be convinced that any ceasefire or agreement would be durable enough to safely allow tankers to transit the narrow passage. There is also the potential issue of sea mines. Iran is believed to have laid mines in the strait during the conflict, raising fears of a lengthy and dangerous clearing process.
Iran's nuclear program and sanctions relief
Iran's nuclear program is a major point of contention in the negotiations, with the US seeking to limit Iran's nuclear capabilities and Iran resisting such limits. Sanctions relief is another major hurdle, with Iran seeking access to billions of dollars in frozen assets held overseas under US sanctions. These issues are reportedly among the key clauses that remain unresolved, according to Iranian media reports.
Conflicting public statements
President Trump has said that a deal to end the war with Iran has been "largely negotiated" and includes the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Iran says Trump's claims are "incomplete and inconsistent with reality." Iranian state media dismissed Trump's claim that the deal was "largely negotiated" in similar terms.
Perspectives
United States: Donald Trump's Administration
President Trump maintains that a deal is close, describing the agreement as "largely negotiated" and saying negotiations are "proceeding in an orderly and constructive manner." He has stated that the draft agreement includes the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and has suggested that "many other elements" would be included, without elaborating.
Iran: Foreign Ministry and State Media
Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman, Esmail Baghaei, said a "large portion" of obstacles had been resolved but cautioned that it was too soon to say a deal was ready to be signed. He described the draft proposal as a "framework agreement" requiring further discussion. State media, meanwhile, has dismissed Trump's characterization of the deal, saying it is "incomplete and inconsistent with reality," and Iranian officials have insisted that Tehran will retain control of the Strait of Hormuz.