Is the Iran deal finally near? Trump, Rubio project momentum as Iran deal remains unsigned

US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have projected momentum in negotiations with Iran, but no final agreement is ready for signature.

Trump said on Saturday that Washington and Tehran had “largely negotiated” a memorandum of understanding, while later saying he had told his representatives “not to rush into any deal” and that the U.S. blockade in the Strait of Hormuz would stay in place until an agreement was “reached, certified, and signed.”

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Good news is promised, but not yet served

Rubio, speaking in New Delhi on Saturday, said progress had been made in the previous 48 hours on an outline that could help resolve the crisis around the Strait of Hormuz and added that there could be “good news” in the next few hours.

He also reiterated that Iran could never be allowed to have a nuclear weapon and described attacks on commercial vessels as “totally illegal.” His comments came during talks with Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, where the two sides also discussed trade, visas, maritime security, and energy supplies.

Not quite a done deal

Even so, Reuters said a senior U.S. administration official did not expect an agreement to be signed on Sunday, saying the Iranian system did not move fast enough.

The official said Iran had agreed “in principle” to reopen the strait in exchange for the lifting of the US naval blockade but added that the details of the nuclear measures would take more time.

A separate report from CNN said several major components of the proposed arrangement were still under discussion and that a formal agreement was not expected despite Trump’s claims of progress.

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Knots remain

The Iranian-linked Tasnim news agency said the U.S. was still obstructing parts of a potential deal, including Tehran’s demand for the release of frozen funds.

The two sides remain divided over Iran’s nuclear ambitions, sanctions relief, and the fate of frozen oil revenues. The negotiations also have regional implications. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Trump Israel would keep freedom of action against threats in Lebanon and that Trump would not sign a final agreement without dismantling Iran’s nuclear program and removing enriched uranium from its territory.