Published On 3/6/2026
There is a state of uncertainty over the results of diplomatic moves to reach an agreement between the United States and Iran, despite the great momentum during the past days and statements about the imminent announcement of a preliminary memorandum of understanding that will lead to a broader agreement between the two sides.
The statements issued by Washington and Tehran reveal the insistence of both parties to pass their terms in the upcoming agreement, amid a mutual refusal to make any concessions so far.
In his latest statements, US President Donald Trump confirmed the continuation of talks with Tehran, describing the reports received about the cessation of negotiations between the two sides a few days ago as “false and misleading.”
He stated that no one knows where these talks will lead, noting that he informed Iran that the time has come to conclude an agreement one way or another, and that it cannot be allowed to continue what it has done for 47 years for any longer.
On Monday, Trump indicated the possibility of reaching a framework agreement with Iran during the next week, aiming to extend the ceasefire and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, but he acknowledged that the agreement is still under negotiation and has not yet been finally resolved, due to the remaining outstanding points.
American demands
It appears that the intransigence of both parties regarding their demands and requirements is behind the failure to complete the deal, as ABC News quoted American officials and an informed source that Trump is demanding that Tehran make written and specific nuclear commitments as part of an initial agreement to break the impasse.
The sources explained that Iranian negotiators had previously provided verbal assurances that the regime would eventually agree to certain conditions related to Iran’s nuclear program, but Trump concluded during a meeting held on Friday that Iranian verbal commitments were not strong enough.
While Iranian media reported that the exchange at the presidential level with Washington had stopped, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said, “Iran’s regime is fragmented and we need days to get a response from them,” expressing his hope that the Strait of Hormuz will be opened.
During a public session before Congress, Rubio revealed that Iran had agreed to negotiate aspects of its nuclear program that it had refused to talk about, stressing the need to get rid of highly enriched uranium in the second phase, in reference to the broader agreement.
He explained that Washington has not yet begun a dialogue with Tehran regarding the frozen assets, and will discuss this file later after responding to the nuclear demand, stressing that complex negotiations need time, and that his country is not begging for an agreement, but rather Iran may be seeking it, according to him.
Real gains
On the other hand, the (semi-official) Iranian Fars News Agency quoted an informed source, on Tuesday, that the exchange of letters between Iran and the United States with the aim of reaching a memorandum of understanding on an agreement to end the war stopped a few days ago.
But the Iranian Mehr Agency said – citing a source close to the Iranian negotiating delegation – that the text of the Iranian-American memorandum of understanding is still being studied in Tehran and no response has been sent.
The source pointed out that Washington’s history of non-compliance and lack of trust pushes Iran to deal with a high degree of rigor, noting that because of past experiences, his country seeks to ensure real gains.
He said, “Washington is worried about the war, and we are worried about the agreement.”
Lebanon file
Regarding the Lebanon issue, sources told Al Jazeera in the Iranian capital that the ceasefire in Lebanon represents an integral part and pivotal node in the ongoing negotiations between Iran and the United States of America.
The Washington Post quoted an Iranian official as saying that Tehran suspended talks with the United States on Monday, after Israel intensified its attacks in Lebanon.
The Iranian official added that the last-minute changes made by American negotiators to the terms of the agreement over the weekend hindered progress, noting that the American negotiators did not inform their Iranian counterparts of the new terms of the agreement.
In this context, the Lebanese Parliament Presidency said that Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri received a call from Iranian Parliament Speaker Muhammad Baqir Qalibaf, noting that Berri praised Iran’s insistence that stopping the aggression against Lebanon be the first item in any agreement that ends the war.
Military movements and threats
Amid the atmosphere of negotiations, there are still preparations and threats for the possibility of returning to war again, as the Washington Post quoted sources as saying that American military officials on several continents have raised the level of protection in anticipation of the return of fighting.
On the Israeli level, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stressed that Tel Aviv would help achieve the goal of the demise of the Iranian regime, which he said would no longer threaten Israel’s existence. He added, “Iran will not threaten us again with nuclear bombs and thousands of ballistic missiles.”
On the other hand, Fars News Agency quoted the Iranian Revolutionary Guard spokesman as saying that his forces are ready for all possible scenarios.
He added, “If the enemy returns to the military arena, the type of operation, the geography of the battle, and even the type of weapons used will be different,” reiterating Iran’s adherence to sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, which he considered one of the aspects of Tehran’s strength.
