Trump Tells Negotiators ‘Not To Rush’ As US-Iran Agreement Faces Delays Over Final Clauses

Just a day after US President Donald Trump claimed that an agreement with Iran was close and details could be announced "shortly", the White House has now toned down expectations, signalling that negotiations may take longer than initially projected.

Senior US officials now believe that Tehran's leadership structure and ongoing disagreements over specific clauses could delay any final approval of the proposed agreement. While both Washington and Tehran continue to indicate that progress has been made, uncertainty remains over whether the talks will ultimately produce a formal deal.

White House Says Iran's Approval Process Could Take Time

According to an Axios report, a senior US official said the White House believes any agreement may take several more days before it receives approval from Iran's top leadership, including Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.

The development came shortly after Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stressed that no major decision within the Islamic Republic could move forward without the Supreme Leader's consent.

Meanwhile, CNN reported that a senior administration official confirmed negotiations were still continuing and that no agreement was expected to be signed on Sunday because important elements of the framework remained unresolved.

'Back and Forth on Specific Details' Continues

Explaining the delay, a senior Trump administration official said there was still "back and forth on specific details" between Washington and Tehran.

The official noted that negotiators on both sides were still debating wording and legal language linked to the proposed agreement.

"Some words we care about, Some words they care about," the official stated.

The same official also pointed to Iran's "slow and opaque" decision-making process as one of the reasons the talks could continue for several more days.

"Our understanding is that the Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has endorsed the broad template of the deal. Whether this becomes an agreement is still an open question," Axios cited the official as saying.

Trump Urges Negotiators Not To Rush

Even as signs of progress emerged, officials from both countries maintained a cautious tone regarding the prospects of a breakthrough.

Iran's Tasnim news agency warned on Sunday that the proposed arrangement could still collapse, accusing the United States of creating "obstruction" around several key provisions.

On the American side, officials also admitted that the deal was not yet finalised and remained vulnerable to disagreements.

"We are in a very good place - but there are ways in which the deal can be undermined," a senior US official told Axios.

US President Donald Trump also indicated a more measured approach earlier in the day, saying he had instructed American negotiators "not to rush into a deal". Trump added that "both sides must take their time and get it right."

Nuclear Program Remains Sensitive Issue

One of the central sticking points in the negotiations continues to be Iran's nuclear programme.

According to a US administration official, Tehran has reportedly agreed in principle to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and dispose of its stockpile of highly enriched uranium. However, Iranian authorities have not officially confirmed those claims.

Leaders in Tehran have continued to insist that the nuclear issue is not formally part of the current round of discussions, highlighting the gap that still exists between public positions taken by both governments.