A fragile diplomatic effort between the United States and Iran remained uncertain on Saturday after a high-level White House meeting failed to produce a final decision on a proposed framework to extend the current ceasefire, while both sides continued to exchange accusations and warnings over the future of the conflict.
President Donald Trump convened senior advisers in the White House Situation Room on Friday to make what he described as a “final determination” on a proposed agreement that would extend the ceasefire with Iran for another 60 days and create space for broader negotiations on Tehran’s nuclear program. However, officials provided no indication that a final breakthrough had been reached.
The proposed arrangement, according to U.S. officials cited by multiple media outlets, would prolong the ceasefire that took effect on April 8 and establish a framework for negotiations over Iran’s nuclear activities, one of the most contentious issues between Washington and Tehran.
Before the meeting, Trump outlined a series of conditions on his Truth Social platform, insisting that Iran must permanently renounce any effort to obtain a nuclear weapon, reopen the Strait of Hormuz to unrestricted commercial shipping, and remove any mines deployed in the strategic waterway. He also suggested that the United States should be allowed to remove and destroy Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium.
“Iran must agree that they will never have a Nuclear Weapon or Bomb,” Trump wrote, adding that the Strait of Hormuz should be immediately reopened for unrestricted traffic in both directions.
Despite Trump’s public optimism, Iranian officials quickly rejected key elements of the proposal and accused Washington of undermining the diplomatic process.
Mohsen Rezaei, an adviser to Iran’s supreme leader, criticized the U.S. president in a post on X on Saturday, saying Trump had once again demonstrated that he was not genuinely committed to negotiations. Rezaei accused Washington of maintaining excessive demands while continuing military pressure through the naval blockade.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei also reiterated Tehran’s position during remarks to Iranian state television, saying the government remained focused on ending the war and was not engaged in negotiations over its nuclear program. Iranian officials continue to insist that the country’s nuclear activities are intended exclusively for peaceful civilian purposes and reject allegations that Tehran seeks to develop nuclear weapons.
The dispute over uranium enrichment remains one of the largest obstacles to a final agreement. Washington has long demanded that Iran halt production of highly enriched uranium and dispose of its existing stockpile, arguing that such material could potentially be used in a future weapons program. Tehran maintains that its nuclear activities comply with peaceful objectives and national sovereignty.
Adding to the tensions, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned that Washington remained prepared to resume military operations if negotiations collapsed.
Speaking on Saturday at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Hegseth said the United States possessed sufficient military resources to restart attacks if necessary.
“Our ability to recommence if necessary—we are more than capable,” Hegseth told delegates at the annual security summit. “Our stockpiles are more than suited for that, both there and around the globe.”
He also emphasized that the United States remained committed to maintaining its strategic presence in the Asia-Pacific region despite the ongoing confrontation with Iran.
The latest diplomatic impasse comes after months of conflict that began on February 28, when the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes against Iranian targets. Iran responded with attacks against Israel and U.S.-aligned states in the Gulf region and moved to restrict shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy corridors. Around one-fifth of global energy supplies normally pass through the narrow waterway, making disruptions there a major concern for international markets.
The conflict has contributed to volatility in global oil prices and raised concerns among major energy-importing countries. Although a ceasefire has been in place since April 8, both Washington and Tehran have repeatedly accused each other of violations.
On Thursday, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed responsibility for targeting a U.S. military facility in Kuwait, describing it as the source of previous attacks on the Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas. U.S. Central Command condemned the strike as a serious violation of the ceasefire.
Meanwhile, negotiators from both countries continue to work through unresolved issues. Speaking on Thursday, U.S. Vice President JD Vance acknowledged that negotiators were still debating crucial language regarding uranium enrichment and other key provisions.
“We’re not there yet, but we’re very close and we’re going to keep on working at it,” Vance said while discussing the status of the negotiations.
Iranian parliamentary speaker and chief negotiator Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf expressed deep skepticism about U.S. commitments, saying Tehran would judge Washington by its actions rather than its promises.
“No action will be taken before the other side acts,” Qalibaf wrote on social media on Friday. “The winner of any agreement is the one who is better prepared for war the day after.”
As negotiations continue, the gap between Washington and Tehran remains substantial. While the Trump administration seeks stricter limits on Iran’s nuclear capabilities and security guarantees for shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian officials continue to reject what they describe as excessive demands and insist that any lasting settlement must include concrete actions from the United States.
