Iran Says ‘Many Gaps’ Remain In US Talks As Ceasefire Deadline Nears, Final Deal Still Out Of Reach

Iran has said there has been progress in its negotiations with the United States, but stressed that a final agreement remains some way off as the two-week ceasefire between the two sides approaches its scheduled end on Wednesday. The latest remarks from senior Iranian officials suggest that while diplomatic engagement is continuing, key disputes remain unresolved and no immediate breakthrough has yet emerged.

Iran says "many gaps" remain despite progress in talks

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who led Tehran's delegation during the first round of talks in Pakistan last Saturday, said in a televised address on Saturday that important differences were still standing in the way of a final settlement.

"there are many gaps and some fundamental points remain."

He underlined that the process was still at an early and uncertain stage, saying, "We are still far from the final discussion."

Ghalibaf also framed Iran's position as one of strength, claiming that Tehran had entered the ceasefire only after Washington had accepted its terms. Referring to the temporary truce with the United States, he said, "If we accepted the ceasefire, it was because they accepted our demands."

According to him, Iran had been "victorious in the field" during the recent weeks of conflict and the United States had failed to achieve its strategic objectives. He also asserted that Iran continued to maintain control over the Strait of Hormuz, the critical maritime chokepoint through which a major share of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas shipments pass.

"The enemy's every effort was to impose its demands on us and it is important that we register our rights, so this is where negotiation is a method of struggle," Ghalibaf said.

No date fixed for next round as Tehran seeks framework first

The high-level talks in Islamabad between Ghalibaf's delegation and US Vice President JD Vance on April 11 marked the most senior direct contact between Iran and the United States since the 1979 Islamic revolution. However, despite the significance of the meeting, the negotiations ended without a final deal.

Iran's deputy foreign minister Saeed Khatibzadeh later said that no date had yet been fixed for the next round of discussions. Speaking on the sidelines of a diplomacy forum in Antalya, he said Tehran was focusing first on completing a "framework of understanding" before committing to any further meetings.

That stance appeared to contrast with a CNN report, which said the next rounds of talks had been expected on Monday in Islamabad. The lack of an officially confirmed schedule highlights the uncertainty surrounding the diplomatic process, even as the ceasefire clock continues to tick down.

Trump says "very good conversations" are underway, warns Iran on Hormuz

On the US side, President Donald Trump said on Saturday that dialogue with Tehran was continuing and described the current exchanges in optimistic terms, while also issuing a fresh warning.

Speaking to reporters during a White House event, Trump said "very good conversations" were taking place with Iran but accused Tehran of trying to test Washington's patience, particularly over its recent moves in the Strait of Hormuz.

"We're talking to them. They wanted to close up the strait again -- you know, as they've been doing for years -- and they can't blackmail us," Trump said.

He added that there would be "some information" on Iran later in the day and said, "We're taking a tough stand."

Trump's remarks came after he had earlier warned that the United States could "start dropping bombs again" unless Iran agreed to a longer-term settlement before the ceasefire expires on Wednesday.

Iran reimposes restrictions on Strait of Hormuz after brief reversal

Tensions around the Strait of Hormuz remain central to the standoff. On Saturday, the Iranian military announced that the waterway had once again been closed, reversing its own statement from a day earlier that the strait had been reopened.

The sharp shift followed Trump's insistence that a US naval blockade of Iranian ports would remain in place until a deal ending the conflict was reached. That war began on February 28, when the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran.

Iran's central military command said that, in response to the US blockade, Hormuz was once again "under strict management and control of the armed forces".

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps also issued a stern warning, saying any attempt to cross the strait "will be considered cooperation with the enemy, and the offending vessel will be targeted".

With the ceasefire due to lapse in just days, the mixed signals from both sides suggest diplomacy is still alive, but fragile. Iran is signalling willingness to continue talks, yet insists core differences remain unresolved, while Washington says negotiations are productive even as it keeps military and economic pressure firmly in place.