Fresh diplomatic efforts are underway to prevent another escalation in the Iran-Israel-US conflict, with US President Donald Trump claiming that a peace agreement with Iran has been “largely negotiated” even as officials caution that several major issues remain unresolved.
According to multiple reports, negotiations involving the United States, Iran, Pakistan, Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and other regional players are continuing behind closed doors in an attempt to finalise a framework aimed at ending months of military tensions and reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump said his administration is working toward a “good and proper” agreement with Iran and insisted that any deal would be far stricter than the 2015 nuclear deal negotiated under former President Barack Obama. He also stressed that Iran would not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons.
However, White House officials reportedly warned that the agreement has not yet been finalised and may still collapse because of disagreements over uranium enrichment, sanctions relief, maritime control, and implementation timelines.
One of the biggest sticking points remains the Strait of Hormuz, through which nearly one-fifth of global oil supplies pass. Reports suggest the proposed agreement could include reopening the strategic shipping route, temporary sanctions relief for Iran, and broader regional ceasefire arrangements.
Iranian officials meanwhile warned that the United States was “obstructing” important clauses in the draft proposal and stated that Tehran would not compromise on core strategic interests. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said no final decision would be taken without approval from the Supreme Leader and Iran’s national security establishment.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledged that negotiations had made progress but cautioned that nuclear-related agreements are highly technical and cannot be completed quickly. Rubio also rejected Iran’s reported proposals involving strategic control or toll systems linked to Hormuz shipping routes.
Pakistan has emerged as a key mediator in the crisis, with reports indicating that Pakistani military and diplomatic officials have been actively involved in shuttle diplomacy between Tehran, Washington, and Gulf countries.
The diplomatic developments have already affected global markets. Oil prices fell sharply after optimism grew over a possible breakthrough agreement that could reopen shipping lanes and stabilise energy supplies. Asian and Indian stock markets also gained on hopes of de-escalation in the Middle East.
Despite the positive signals, tensions remain extremely fragile. Israeli strikes reportedly continued in parts of Lebanon, while Hezbollah leaders expressed hope that any Iran-US deal would also include Lebanon and wider regional ceasefire guarantees.
Analysts say the next few days could prove decisive for the future of the conflict. A successful agreement may stabilise oil markets and reduce geopolitical tensions, while failure of the talks could trigger fresh military escalation involving the United States, Iran, Israel, and regional allies.
