Trump delays 'final determination' on Iran deal as Tehran pushes back key US claims

US President Donald Trump has yet to make a "final determination" on a potential agreement with Iran, while Tehran has pushed back against several elements of the deal outlined by the US leader, highlighting continuing divisions between the two sides.

In a social media post on Friday, Trump set out what he described as conditions for an agreement with Iran, saying Tehran must commit to never obtaining a nuclear weapon. He also called for the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to unrestricted shipping, the removal of any naval mines in the waterway, and the destruction of Iran's enriched uranium stockpiles under US, Iranian and International Atomic Energy Agency coordination.

Trump further said no financial compensation or investment-related arrangements would proceed "until further notice" and announced he would meet with his national security team at the White House to make a "final determination."

However, the anticipated decision did not materialize. Later on Friday, a senior US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Trump's roughly two-hour meeting with advisers ended without a final decision on the proposed agreement.

At the same time, Washington continued to increase pressure in the Strait of Hormuz. The US Central Command warned on Friday that it would conduct military operations near the strategic waterway and could target vessels involved in laying or supporting naval mines.

In a notice, the command alleged that Iran was continuing efforts to disrupt mine-clearing operations and safe navigation in the strait. It said any vessel found participating in mine-laying activities could become a military target. US forces also said maritime blockade measures against Iran remain in place and have caused 115 commercial vessels to alter their routes as of May 29.

'A mixture of truths and lies'

Iran, however, disputed key elements of Trump's account.

Iran's semi-official Fars News Agency, citing informed sources, described Trump's remarks as "a mixture of truths and lies." The agency said a draft agreement is currently in the final stages of Iran's internal review process and that no final decision has yet been made.

According to the report, neither Trump's demand that the Strait of Hormuz remain open without tolls nor any requirement to eliminate Iran's nuclear materials appears in the draft text.

Fars added that one of the most important provisions omitted from Trump's description is Iran's demand for the release of $12 billion in frozen Iranian assets. Under the draft arrangement, Tehran would not enter any subsequent phase of negotiations until those funds are unfrozen. Another key clause reportedly calls for a comprehensive ceasefire in Lebanon.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei also emphasized that no agreement has been finalized. In an interview with state broadcaster IRIB on Friday, he said message exchanges between Tehran and Washington were continuing and stressed that Iran's immediate focus remains "ending the war."

"We have no talk on details of the issues pertaining to Iran's uranium enrichment or enriched uranium at this stage," he said.

Iranian officials also reiterated Tehran's position on the Strait of Hormuz. Ebrahim Rezaei, spokesman for the Iranian parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Committee said on social media that Iran's control over the strait is an internationally recognized fact. He argued that vessels can transit the waterway after obtaining authorization, paying relevant fees and receiving guidance from the Iranian navy.

Baghaei likewise stressed the responsibilities of Iran and Oman as coastal states overseeing the strategic passage, saying Iran and Oman, as two responsible countries, must adopt appropriate mechanisms to safeguard their interests and security while ensuring the safety of international shipping.

The latest exchanges follow reports on Thursday that US and Iranian negotiators had agreed on a memorandum of understanding aimed at extending the ceasefire and launching talks on Iran's nuclear program. However, the memorandum had not received Trump's final approval, and Iran had not formally accepted it.

Analysts say the repeated back-and-forth over the proposed memorandum reflects less a communication breakdown than a strategy of deliberate ambiguity by both sides. Washington seeks to project flexibility and portray Tehran as the party delaying progress, while Iran aims to demonstrate that it is not negotiating under pressure and that key issues remain open for discussion. Observers expect this strategic maneuvering to continue until any final agreement is reached.