The Iran war deal has hit a new snag, with President Donald Trump reportedly pushing to toughen several of its terms just as a final agreement appeared within reach. According to multiple U.S. media reports, the changes have sent the proposed framework back to Tehran for fresh consideration, delaying an end to the conflict that has gripped the region.

Even so, officials on both sides insist that talks have not collapsed and that dialogue continues, however slowly.

Trump Sends the Deal Back

The New York Times reported that Trump moved to strengthen the terms of the proposed agreement, prompting the United States to return the revised framework to Iran. Citing officials familiar with the matter, the report noted on Saturday that the precise nature of the changes was not immediately clear.

Axios offered additional context, reporting that Trump wanted to reinforce several points he viewed as especially important. Chief among them was the question of what should be done with Iran’s nuclear material, a sticking point that has loomed over the negotiations from the start.

A Waiting Game

The revisions appear to have introduced a fresh round of delay. A senior U.S. official told Axios that Trump had been informed it could take roughly three days for Iran to respond, offering a vivid explanation for the slow pace.

According to that official, Iranian decision-makers are operating under difficult conditions, reportedly sheltering in caves and not relying on email to communicate. Despite the uncertainty, the official expressed confidence that an agreement would ultimately come together.

The timeline, however, remained deliberately vague:

• A deal is expected, though its timing is unclear.
• The U.S. is prepared to wait until Trump secures what he is asking for.
• It could take a week, less, or more, with hopes of progress by the turn of the week.

Iran: “Dialogue Is Ongoing”

From Tehran’s side, the message was one of cautious continuity. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told the country’s IRNA news agency on Sunday that dialogue and an exchange of messages with the United States were still underway.

He urged restraint in interpreting the situation, warning that no judgment could be made until a clear conclusion was reached. In his view, everything being said amid the current speculation should not be taken seriously until it becomes certain.

Tehran Stands Firm on Its Terms

While the foreign minister struck a measured tone, other Iranian officials drew sharper lines. Iran’s chief negotiator made clear earlier in the day that Tehran would not accept any deal that failed to secure its full rights.

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, speaking after taking the oath as the re-elected speaker of parliament, emphasized a deep distrust of the other side. He stressed that Iran placed no faith in the enemy’s words or promises, insisting that the only acceptable standard was achieving tangible results before Tehran fulfilled any commitments of its own.

The Stakes of Delay

The adjustments Trump is reportedly seeking could stretch the negotiations out for several more days before any decision is reached on ending the war, which began after the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran on February 28.

U.S. sources told the AFP news agency that the agreement currently on the table had been awaiting Trump’s sign-off, but that he declined to make a decision following a White House Situation Room meeting on Friday.

That hesitation carries real risk. Richard Weitz, a senior fellow at the NATO Defense College, warned that the longer an agreement takes, the greater the danger that active military operations could resume. Still, he framed the situation in measured terms, suggesting that the risks were moderate compared to the value of reaching a durable agreement, one that both sides would feel satisfied with and therefore be less inclined to revise later in ways that could trigger further escalation.

Trump’s Core Priorities

Trump has been clear about what he wants any deal to accomplish. His stated priorities include:

• A commitment from Iran to never develop nuclear weapons.
• The reopening of the blockaded Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly 20 percent of the world’s oil and gas supply passes.

The strait remains a particularly volatile flashpoint. On Saturday, the Iranian military’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters reasserted the country’s control over the waterway, warning that foreign commercial and military vessels would be targeted if they failed to comply with the regulations governing passage through it.

The Nuclear Question

On the nuclear front, Tehran has repeatedly maintained that it has no intention of building atomic weapons. That position has found support in U.S. intelligence assessments in the past.

In March 2025, former U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard testified to Congress that Washington continued to assess that Iran was not building a nuclear weapon, a statement that complicates the narrative driving some of the current demands.

An Uncertain Path Forward

For now, the fate of the Iran war deal rests on a delicate balance. Trump is holding out for stronger terms, Iran is refusing to commit without guarantees of its full rights, and analysts warn that every day of delay raises the odds of renewed fighting.

Both sides describe the channels of communication as open, but neither is willing to predict when a final agreement might materialize. As messages travel slowly between Washington and a Tehran leadership operating under wartime conditions, the region waits anxiously to see whether diplomacy can hold or whether the fragile pause in fighting will give way to fresh conflict.