Talks between Washington and Tehran are showing "tangible progress," according to recent statements by senior officials. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking in New Delhi, expressed hope that "the world will hear good news in the coming hours, especially regarding the Strait of Hormuz." He stressed that over the past 48 hours progress has been made in discussing a common framework that could resolve the crisis around this strategic waterway.
Pakistan played a key mediating role, organizing several rounds of consultations and expressing optimism about "significant progress." Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said that the results achieved "give grounds for hope for a positive and long-term solution." He also praised the leadership of US President Donald Trump and his commitment to dialogue, and Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif expressed hope that the next round of talks would be held in Pakistan.
The main sticking point remained the order in which key issues would be discussed. Iran sought to postpone the nuclear issue until after signing an agreement to open the Strait of Hormuz and end the war, while the US insisted on addressing all issues simultaneously. According to The Washington Post, the command of the Pakistani army made efforts to bring the parties' positions closer together, helping to find a compromise between these two approaches.
US President Donald Trump confirmed that a "substantial part" of a memorandum of understanding has already been agreed and that final details are now being discussed. On his social network Truth Social he wrote that the agreement will be announced soon. Without disclosing details, Trump reinforced the impression that the parties have reached a common framework that only needs to be finalized. This signal was accompanied by intensive consultations both at the mediator level and at official levels.
Iranian media, including the Fars and Tasnim agencies, published the alleged points of a preliminary agreement. According to them, the parties undertake not to attack one another or their allies, and to end military actions on all fronts. It is planned that measures to restore shipping in the Strait of Hormuz will be taken within 30 days after signing, and then negotiations on the nuclear program will take place within 60 days. The document also provides for a partial lifting of sanctions on Iranian oil and gas, a return of ship traffic to pre-war levels, and the unblocking of part of frozen assets.
Israel reacted to the course of the talks with alarm. According to Channel 12, a senior Israeli official said that "the agreement that is now taking shape is bad because it sends the Iranians a signal that the Strait of Hormuz is as powerful a weapon as the nuclear [program]." The official noted that Trump views the deal as "economic," and the nuclear issue may be postponed, but "it is unclear what will happen after the first phase." According to Channel 14, Prime Minister Netanyahu even forbade ministers from commenting on the forthcoming agreement, indicating the subject's extreme sensitivity within the Israeli government.
Comments on the news
What strategic significance does the Strait of Hormuz have for global energy supplies, and why could its blockade trigger a global crisis? - About 20–25% of all global oil shipments and a significant share of liquefied natural gas pass through the Strait of Hormuz. This chokepoint between the Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean is the only maritime route for energy exports from Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the UAE and Qatar. A blockade of the strait, even partial, would lead to a sharp spike in oil and gas prices (IEA estimates — up to $150–200 per barrel), paralysis of energy supplies in importing countries (China, Japan, South Korea, India, the EU) and would deal a blow to the global economy comparable to the 1973 crisis or an actual recession.
What are the Fars and Tasnim news agencies known for, and how can their political orientation affect coverage of the talks? - Fars (founded in 2003) and Tasnim (founded in 2012) are influential semi-official agencies in Iran. Fars is closely linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), while Tasnim is associated with the conservative wing that supports Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Being loyal to the regime, both agencies typically portray negotiations (for example, on the nuclear deal) as "concessions under pressure" or "a defensive necessity," less often giving a positive assessment to diplomacy with the US and the West. The difference in emphasis: Fars more often stresses military strength and threats, Tasnim — ideological integrity and resistance. As a result, their coverage can shift public perception of the talks toward skepticism and aggressive rhetoric, complicating public acceptance of any potential compromises.
What key events (for example, the US withdrawal from the JCPOA in 2018) preceded the current conflict over Iran's nuclear program? - The escalation includes several stages: 1) 2015 — signing of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) between Iran and the "P5+1" (US, UK, France, Germany, Russia, China + EU); 2) 2018 — unilateral US withdrawal under President Trump and the reinstatement of tough sanctions ("maximum pressure" policy); 3) 2019–2020 — Iran gradually abandons JCPOA commitments (raising uranium enrichment levels from 3.67% to 60%, accumulation of centrifuges and isotopes); 4) 2020 — the US killing of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani; 5) 2021–2022 — failed negotiations in Vienna on returning to the JCPOA; 6) 2023–2025 — further enrichment of Iranian uranium (up to 84% purity, close to weapons-grade), diplomatic deadlock and an increase in mutual threats (including Israel's position on preemptive strikes). These events created a "powder keg" in which the technical capability for nuclear weapons has almost been mastered, but political agreement is lacking.
Full version: بوساطة باكستانية.. واشنطن وطهران تقتربان من اتفاق وإسرائيل تحذر