The possibility of a peace deal between the United States and Iran remains uncertain, as Donald Trump has made it clear that any agreement will only happen if all his conditions are met. A White House official said Trump is firm on his “red lines,” especially the demand that Iran must never possess nuclear weapons.

What are the key sticking points in the deal?

Talks to end the ongoing conflict in West Asia have been slow and complicated. While US officials suggested that a deal was close and waiting for Trump’s approval, Iran has denied that any final agreement exists. Iranian officials have even called Trump’s statements a “mixture of truth and lies.”

One major issue is the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial global shipping route. Trump said Iran would remove mines and reopen the route without charging tolls, while the US would lift restrictions on Iranian ports. However, Iranian sources rejected this claim, saying no such clause exists in the agreement, according to AFP.

Another disagreement is over Iran’s enriched uranium. Trump claimed both countries would work together to destroy it, but Iranian officials strongly denied this, calling the claim “baseless.”

Is diplomacy still ongoing or has it stalled?

Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said there are currently no active negotiations on the nuclear issue. However, he added that message exchanges are still happening.

Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Iran is ready for a “dignified framework” to end the war, during a call with Qatar’s leadership. At the same time, Iran is reportedly demanding the release of $12 billion in frozen assets before moving forward.

How is the conflict impacting the region?

Tensions remain high not only in the Gulf but also in Lebanon. Benjamin Netanyahu said Israeli forces have pushed deeper into Lebanese territory, targeting Hezbollah positions. The Iran-backed group has responded with drone attacks on northern Israel.