The U.S. and Iran have given mixed signals about progress in peace talks, after U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said there had been “some progress,” while Iran’s Foreign Ministry said major differences remained.
On Saturday, 23 May, Rubio said that Washington is making progress in its dispute with Iran and could provide an update in the coming days.
Speaking to reporters during a visit to New Delhi, Rubio indicated that discussions are ongoing and evolving in real time.
“There's been some progress done, some progress made, even as I speak to you now, there's some work being done. There is a chance that, whether it's later today, tomorrow, in a couple days, we may have something to say,” he said.
"This problem will be solved one way or the other, the President made it clear and we hope it is through the diplomatic route", he further stated.
Earlier on 22 May, after a meeting of NATO ministers in Helsingborg, Sweden, Rubio told reporters that “There's been some progress. I wouldn't exaggerate it. I wouldn't diminish it.”
Iranian state media quoted a Foreign Ministry spokesman as saying that differences in mediated talks between the two countries remained “deep and significant.”
However, a source close to the negotiations told Iran’s IRGC-affiliated Tasnim news agency that progress had been made on some issues.
Diplomatic efforts to end the conflict are expected to continue in Tehran over the weekend.
Pakistan’s military chief joined the country’s interior minister in Tehran on Friday to support mediation efforts.
Qatar has also sent a negotiating team, working in coordination with the U.S., to try to resolve the sides’ main differences, six weeks into a fragile ceasefire.
Iran’s uranium enrichment programme and access to the Strait of Hormuz remain major sticking points in the negotiations.
The U.S. strongly opposes Iranian proposals to charge ships fees for using the narrow waterway, through which a significant share of global seaborne oil passes.
U.S. President Donald Trump has insisted that Iran must hand over its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, which Washington believes could be used in a nuclear weapon — an allegation Tehran denies.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has reportedly ordered that the country’s enriched uranium must not be sent abroad, in an apparent hardening of Tehran’s negotiating position.
Rubio also reiterated that Iran’s plans for a tolling system in the Strait of Hormuz were “unacceptable.”
“We're dealing with a very difficult group of people, and if it doesn't change, then the president's been clear he has other options,” Rubio said.
Trump said on Friday he was skipping his eldest son’s wedding this weekend to remain in Washington during what he described as an “important period of time.”
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President Donald Trump said Iran is keen to reach a deal with the United States, claiming Washington had paused engagement to allow funeral ceremonies for late Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Russia's Defence Ministry has said its forces are clearing the town of Lyman in Donetsk of Ukrainian forces, Moscow's state news agency Tass reported. Meanwhile, Russian attacks killed at least six people across three Ukrainian regions on Friday, regional officials said.
Uzbekistan will open an embassy in Georgia, the Central Asian country’s presidency has said. The announcement follows talks between Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze in Tbilisi.
Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of the eastern German city of Erfurt on Saturday as the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) opened its annual party conference, where delegates voted to keep Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla as the party's co-leaders.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has raised its forecast for the rapid emergence of a strong El Niño, warning the climate pattern is likely to drive higher global temperatures and intensify extreme weather in the months ahead.
India is investigating a data breach at Tata Electronics that exposed sensitive documents linked to Apple's unreleased iPhone 18 Pro, marking the government's first public comments on the incident.
Iran and the U.S. have concluded indirect talks in Doha without a major breakthrough, with discussions focused on maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz and frozen Iranian funds. Both sides are expected to meet again after the funeral of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
International politicians and religious leaders have paid respects to Iran's late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei throughout the day, ahead of his six day funeral ceremony which begins on Saturday. His casket is currently on display at the Iman Khomeini Grand Mosalla in Tehran.
Germany has requested urgent talks with China's ambassador following reports that Chinese authorities trained Russian soldiers, adding fresh strain to relations between Beijing and Europe amid the war in Ukraine.
President Donald Trump said Iran is keen to reach a deal with the United States, claiming Washington had paused engagement to allow funeral ceremonies for late Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Tehran will open a direct communication channel with Washington to report alleged breaches of the ceasefire memorandum of understanding, while insisting the Strait of Hormuz remains under Iranian control.
Iranian and U.S. negotiating teams were due in Doha this week, but Iran said on Monday no meeting had been scheduled as weekend missile fire from both sides tested the interim ceasefire to end the four-month-old war.
Iranian and Qatari delegations are expected to meet on Wednesday in Doha to discuss the release of Tehran's assets, estimated at $12 billion, that were frozen by Washington under the Iran-U.S. ceasefire memorandum of understanding, Iran's Foreign Ministry announced on Tuesday (30 June).
Iran and the U.S. are at odds over planned talks in Doha, with Tehran denying any meeting is scheduled despite Washington preparing to send senior envoys. The disagreement comes amid renewed missile attacks and rising tensions that are testing a fragile ceasefire.
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