The Trump administration has reportedly rejected returning to the framework of a preliminary agreement reached with Iran in June, further complicating prospects for renewed diplomatic talks between Washington and Tehran, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter.
The White House has also denied that negotiations are currently taking place.
“There are currently no negotiations happening,” White House Press secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News, adding that ‘all options remain on the table’.
President Trump said a day earlier that he was in no hurry to resume talks with Tehran. Asked by Al Jazeera how long the conflict could continue, Trump said he had ‘no timetable’ and was prepared to let the fighting persist for as long as necessary.
He also described both US economic pressure and military action against Iran as effective.
Trump rejected reports that he was seeking a meeting with Iranian officials to secure an agreement.
Writing on Truth Social, he claimed that Tehran – not Washington – was pushing for renewed dialogue and ‘begging’ to make a deal.
He said the Strait of Hormuz was open and Iran’s response to US operations there had been limited, Axios reported.
“They don’t want us to go back at them. That’s the whole ball game. The rest doesn’t matter,” he added.
Axios said US officials believed Washington had gained greater control over the key energy waterway after weeks of military operations aimed at clearing mines and protecting commercial shipping.
Efforts to reach a lasting agreement between the United States and Iran therefore remain stalled. Although US strikes have paused for now, Washington continues to intensify economic pressure on Tehran.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced a wide-ranging campaign this week aimed at further isolating the Iranian government and restricting its sources of revenue.
US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said Washington had not ruled out additional strikes against Iran or operations in the Strait of Hormuz.
The preliminary deal that Trump signed at the Palace of Versailles, which Vice President JD Vance helped negotiate, aimed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and launch talks on Iran’s nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief and Tehran’s access to its frozen assets.
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