US, Iran trade barbs as Trump weighs potential deal; no agreement reached
US President Donald Trump met with advisers on Friday to make a “final determination” on a potential agreement with Iran to end the Middle East conflict, but the two-hour meeting concluded without a decision as both sides publicly disagreed on key terms.
Trump had earlier reiterated his demands that Iran must agree never to have nuclear weapons and must immediately open the Strait of Hormuz for toll-free shipping. In return, he said the US would lift its naval blockade of Iranian ports.
Tehran swiftly rejected the president’s language, with a foreign ministry spokesman insisting there was “no final agreement” and that Iran “said goodbye to the language of ‘must’ 47 years ago.” Iranian sources called Trump’s remarks a “mixture of truth and lies,” denying any clause about destroying nuclear material and stating that Tehran was demanding the immediate release of $12 billion in frozen assets.
Despite the public discord and ongoing accusations of truce violations, hopes for a deal had risen earlier after US officials said “a lot of progress” had been made. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian acknowledged diplomatic efforts, thanking Pakistan for its “initiative and effective efforts to reach an agreement.”
Separately, Iran’s state TV claimed a US aircraft was destroyed in Bushehr, a report the US Central Command denied, stating all American air assets were accounted for.
Latest Updates
Updated: 6:50 PM PKT — May 31, 2026
Iran’s parliament speaker and top negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, has stated that Tehran will not accept any agreement with the United States unless it guarantees the protection of the Iranian people’s rights. Speaking after his re-election as speaker, Ghalibaf emphasized a lack of trust in US promises, asserting that Iran’s benchmark is achieving “practical results” before it carries out its own obligations. He reiterated that any deal failing to fully secure the nation’s rights and interests would be rejected.
Updated: 5:48 PM PKT — May 31, 2026
Iran’s chief negotiator said on Sunday that Tehran will not agree to any deal with the United States that fails to secure the rights of the Iranian people, expressing distrust in American promises. “We will not approve any agreement until we are certain that the rights of the Iranian people have been upheld,” chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on state television.
His remarks came as reports indicated that US President Donald Trump had sent a new framework with “tougher” terms for Tehran to consider. Iran views sanctions relief, the release of its frozen assets, and control over the strategic Strait of Hormuz as key rights to be ensured under any potential agreement.
Updated: 11:43 AM PKT — May 31, 2026
US President Donald Trump has claimed he secured a guarantee from Iran that it would not develop nuclear weapons, even as reports emerged that he had sent a new, “tougher” peace proposal back to Tehran for consideration. While Trump reiterated his priorities of preventing a nuclear-armed Iran and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, Tehran has cast doubt on his assertions, demanding the release of $12 billion in frozen assets before substantive talks can proceed.
Despite a fragile ceasefire, military tensions persist, with Iran’s Revolutionary Guards claiming to have shot down a US drone near its territorial waters and recent US strikes on the port of Bandar Abbas prompting retaliatory fire. The conflict in Lebanon has also escalated, with Israel expanding its ground offensive against Hezbollah. The Lebanese prime minister has accused Israel of pursuing a “scorched-earth policy,” while Iran insists Lebanon must be included in any final peace agreement.
Updated: 11:12 AM PKT — May 31, 2026
US President Donald Trump has claimed a “major breakthrough” in negotiations, stating that Iran has agreed not only to refrain from developing nuclear weapons but also from acquiring them by any means. Despite this, a US newspaper reports that Trump has sent revised, tougher proposals to Tehran, aiming to pressure Iran into accepting a pre-prepared framework.
The US President has also revised his earlier stance, now clarifying that the Strait of Hormuz will only be opened once a deal is signed. While asserting that an agreement is “very close” and that the US is “getting what it wants,” Trump added he is in “no hurry” to finalize it. He also claimed that the US had targeted Iran’s military leadership but deliberately avoided destroying its entire army, citing lessons from past conflicts to prevent long-term instability.
Updated: 10:41 AM PKT — May 31, 2026
US President Donald Trump said Washington is working toward a “great deal” with Tehran, expressing a preference for a diplomatic settlement to “save a lot of lives.” In an interview, Trump warned that if negotiations fail, the US would “finish it off militarily,” but added he was in “no hurry” to conclude talks with what he termed “very tough negotiators.”
Meanwhile, US media reported that Trump has proposed several revisions to a draft framework, sending a proposal with stricter conditions back to Iran for consideration. The amendments reportedly reflect the US president’s push for tougher terms, particularly concerning the handling of Iran’s nuclear material.
Updated: 10:10 AM PKT — May 31, 2026
US President Donald Trump has reportedly changed his position on a potential agreement with Iran, sending revised, harsher proposals to Tehran. The move is seen as an attempt to pressure Iran into quickly accepting a previously prepared framework.
Trump has also walked back an earlier announcement that the Strait of Hormuz would be opened on Friday, now stating it will only be unblocked once a final deal is signed. Despite the new terms, the US president claimed the two sides are “very close” to an agreement, adding that he is in “no hurry” to finalize what he hopes will be a “good deal.”
Updated: 8:08 AM PKT — May 31, 2026
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth warned the US is prepared to restart attacks on Iran if a peace deal is not reached, though he stated President Trump remains “patient.” Hegseth’s remarks came as US Central Command reported disabling a Gambia-flagged vessel for violating the naval blockade by firing a missile into its engine room. An Iranian military adviser accused Trump of “betraying diplomacy” with excessive demands.
In Singapore, Hegseth praised Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defence Forces Asim Munir for their role in facilitating negotiations, noting a “true friendship” was developing. Meanwhile, the dispute over the Strait of Hormuz continues, with Iran reasserting its control and warning vessels to comply with its regulations, while the US defence chief called the American blockade “ironclad.” Qatar also rejected any proposals for permanent transit fees in the strategic waterway.
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