U.S. and Iran inch closer to ceasefire, nuclear talks deal

A fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran showed signs of movement on Saturday, but the gap between diplomatic signaling and a real deal remained wide. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said “there may be news later today” on Iran, while Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei described the two sides as “very far from and very close to an agreement.” President Donald Trump said negotiators were “getting a lot closer,” then underscored how unsettled the talks remained by putting the odds at “50/50” and saying he would likely decide by Sunday whether to resume attacks on Iran.

The substance of the talks pointed to how narrow the opening really was. Mediators were working toward a 60-day extension of the ceasefire, which has held for almost two months but has been punctuated by skirmishes. The emerging framework was also tied to nuclear issues, including discussion of Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium, eased sanctions, and the phased unfreezing of Iranian overseas assets. One possible element under discussion was a gradual reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a move with immediate consequences for global energy trade and the already strained regional economy.

Those are the kinds of concessions that could make a ceasefire more durable, but none had been locked in. The same talks that produced hints of progress also exposed the unresolved questions that could still collapse the deal: how much uranium Iran would keep, how quickly sanctions would come off, how much money Tehran could recover, and whether access through the Strait of Hormuz would be restored in stages or left subject to future pressure. Each issue carries leverage for both sides, and each could unravel the truce if either government decides the price is too high.

The political atmosphere around the talks remained brittle. Iran’s top negotiator, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, told Pakistan’s army chief, Asim Munir, that the United States was not being honest in the negotiations and that Tehran would not compromise on its national rights. Qalibaf also said Iran’s armed forces had rebuilt capabilities damaged since the conflict began in late February 2026, a reminder that military signaling continued alongside diplomacy.

The regional dimension was widening as the ceasefire talks advanced. Trump was expected to speak on Saturday with leaders from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Turkey, Jordan and Pakistan, as mediation intensified with Pakistan and Qatar both active in the effort. With the Strait of Hormuz at the center of the draft and the risk of renewed attacks still hanging over the process, the moment was less a breakthrough than a test of whether both sides could turn cautious language into binding concessions.