Iranian officials have strongly pushed back against reports that Tehran and Washington are close to agreeing on a framework deal to end the war, dismissing suggestions of a breakthrough as little more than wishful thinking, and being heavily tilted towards US demands.
Ebrahim Rezaei, spokesperson for the Iranian parliament’s national security and foreign policy commission, rejected an earlier Axios report claiming the two sides were nearing agreement on a one-page memorandum of understanding.
In [and] sharply worded post on X, Rezaei described the reported terms as “an American wishlist [and] not [and] reality”, insisting that the US was trying through pressure, what it had failed to achieve during direct negotiations.
“Iran has its finger on the trigger and is ready,” he wrote. “If they do not surrender and grant the necessary concessions, or if they or their lapdogs attempt any mischief, we will respond with a harsh and regrettable response.”
Due to the fractured leadership, there is increasing resistance inside Tehran, particularly its hardline circles, to any proposal which involves placing limits on Iran’s nuclear activities while the country remains under military and economic pressure.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei alternatively said the US proposal was still under review by Iranian authorities, adding that Tehran would communicate its response through Pakistani mediators once its assessment was complete, in an interview with Iran’s ISNA news.
According to ISNA, Iranian officials view several of the reported US demands as “excessive and unrealistic”, particularly provisions linked to a long-term freeze on uranium enrichment.
The report added that Iran’s negotiating team is currently focused only on ending the war and addressing military tensions, with the nuclear issue effectively pushed into the background for now.
According to the Axios report, citing US officials, Washington expected an Iranian response within 48 hours and that one of the proposed conditions involved Tehran agreeing to a moratorium on nuclear enrichment.
President Donald Trump has also warned that fighting could resume unless Iran “agrees to give what has been agreed”, though he has not publicly detailed the concessions he expects.
Despite Trump recently pausing a planned naval operation aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz, the broader US sanctions regime and maritime restrictions remain in place.
Indeed, CENTCOM has directed a large batch of warships, fighter jets, and personnel to strengthen its maritime blockade of Iranian ports, with the military on Tuesday confirming that 52 commercial vessels had so far been “directed to turn around or return to port” under the blockade measures targeting Iranian-linked shipping.
