The US president says negotiations are proceeding in "an orderly and constructive manner," while Iranian officials say key differences still need to be settled. Follow DW for more.
Click here to add us as a Preferred Source on Google . Then tap the "Star" or "Preferred" to keep DW News at the top of your feed Skip next section Frozen Iranian assets a sticking point 05/24/2026 May 24, 2026 Frozen Iranian assets a sticking point Iran's semi-official news agency Tasnim reported that a possible deal between the United States and Iran to end the war could still be cancelled at the last minute.
The outlet said key clauses of a possible agreement remained unresolved, including the issue of frozen Iranian assets.
Iran has long demanded the release of its frozen assets held in other countries under longstanding US sanctions.
How independent Chinese oil refiners defy US Iran sanctions To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video https://p.dw.com/p/5EGLM Skip next section Netanyahu says in agreement with Trump over Iranian nuclear threat, right to self defense 05/24/2026 May 24, 2026 Netanyahu says in agreement with Trump over Iranian nuclear threat, right to self defense Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday said he was in agreement with US President Donald Trump over the need to "eliminate the nuclear danger" of Iran and preserve Israel's "right to defend itself" in Lebanon.
Netanyahu's statement came amid intensified negotiations to end the war, amid US reports that a negotiated deal was close.
"President Trump and I agreed that any final agreement with Iran must eliminate the nuclear danger," Netanyahu wrote. "That means dismantling Iran’s nuclear enrichment sites and removing its enriched nuclear material from its territory." Iran has insisted on its right to maintain its nuclear program, which it categorically denies aims to develop a nuclear weapon.
Iranian media has reported that a major sticking point in the negotiations is Tehran's insistence that any deal includes all conflicts in the region, namely Lebanon, which was dragged into the war after Iranian-backed Hezbollah attacked Israel over the attacks on Iran.
Israel has since invaded the south of the country and continues to carry out attacks there despite a ceasefire agreement, saying it is targeting Hezbollah.
"President Trump also reaffirmed Israel’s right to defend itself against threats on every front, including Lebanon," Netanyahu wrote.
Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform that he instructed US negotiators "not to rush into a deal," stressing that "time is on our side." "The Blockade will remain in full force and effect until an agreement is reached, certified, and signed. Both sides must take their time and get it right. There can be no mistakes!" Trump wrote.
The US president also hailed Washington's relationship with Iran, saying it was becoming "much more professional and productive." He thanked all countries in the Middle East, saying their cooperation and support "will be further enhanced and strengthened by their joining the Nations of the historic Abraham Accords." The accords, launched during Trump's first term in office, saw countries such as the UAE, Bahrain and Morocco recognize Israeli statehood and normalize ties with Israel.
"Who knows, perhaps the Islamic Republic of Iran would like to join [the Abraham Accords], as well!" Trump wrote.
The Iranian semi-official news agency did not clarify which points were still contentious, but it said the disagreement was due to "obstacles on the US' part." In another report, Tasnim said that any agreement should end the war on all fronts, by which Tehran often means Israel's war with Iran ally Hezbollah in Lebanon. Iran is also reportedly stressing that the US commit to withdrawing its forces from the region surrounding Iran.
The US has military bases in Gulf countries neighboring Iran, which have largely come under Iranian attack amid the war.
"We need to see an agreement that brings the conflict to an end and reopens the Strait of Hormuz, with unconditional and unrestricted freedom of navigation," Starmer said in a post on X, stressing that "it's vital that Iran must never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon." The British prime minister pledged that his government will continue to do everything in its capacity "to protect British people from the impact of this conflict." "We will work with our international partners to seize this moment and achieve a long-term diplomatic settlement," he added.
"I do think perhaps there is the possibility that in the next few hours the world will get some good news," Rubio told reporters during a visit to New Delhi. "I'll leave it to the president to make further announcements." According to Rubio, "significant, but not final" progress has been made in the Pakistan-brokered talks between Washington and Tehran.
He said the possible agreement with Iran would reopen the State of Hormuz and start a "process that can ultimately leave us where the president wants us to be, and that is a world that no longer has to fear or worry about an Iranian nuclear weapon." "Iran can never have a nuclear weapon, and it never will have nuclear weapons, certainly not as long as Donald Trump is President of the US," he added.
It comes after US outlet Axios reported that a draft deal between Tehran and Washington includes a 60-day ceasefire extension, during which Iran would be able to sell oil freely, the Strait of Hormuz would be reopened, and negotiations would be held about the future of Iran's nuclear program.
According to Kan, Netanyahu raised concerns about postponing a decision on Iran's nuclear program for 60 days, during which time renewed strikes on Tehran would be off the table. The report also said that Netanyahu supports the resumption of the military operation in Iran.
Another aspect Israel is worried about is the inclusion of Lebanon in a potential ceasefire agreement, which Israel has tried to avoid due its strikes against Islamist militia Hezbollah and its army's presence in Lebanon's south.
Trump recently said Netanyahu will "do whatever I want him to do" when asked about the Israeli prime minister's response to a possible deal with Iran.
"We commend President Trump's leadership and commitment to dialogue and diplomacy," Dar posted on his X account, saying the US team's "sustained engagement helped achieve meaningful progress in the ongoing negotiations." He also thanked Iran's leadership for their "constructive engagement" in support of advancing peace efforts.
"The achievements of these negotiations offer grounds for optimism that a positive and durable outcome is within reach," Dar added.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who also took part in the phone conversation with Trump and regional leaders, said Ankara was willing to provide any support needed for the implementation of a potential deal.
A statement released by Erdogan's office cited him as saying during the call that an agreement to secure free passage through the Strait of Hormuz would support stability in the region and provide relief to the global economy.
According to the report, the person — named Mojtaba Kian — provided data about Iran's defense industry.
Iran carried out at least 2,159 executions in 2025, making it one of the countries where capital punishment is being applied the most often, according to Amnesty International's Death Sentences and Executions 2025 report.
05/24/2026 May 24, 2026 IN DEPTH: Why is Trump blaming the Kurds?
Learn more about what Trump has claimed about Kurdish forces in recent months in our report.
What points are reportedly in the draft agreement?
Read more about how getting online in Iran is now only affordable to a select few in this report by DW's Shabnam von Hein.
Amnesty's Iran researcher Raha Bahreini tells DW how the regime is increasingly using the death penalty to crush dissent.
She says there is a "strategy of fear and repression" behind Iran's frequent "politically motivated" executions, adding that the release of political prisoners should be a key demand in US-Iran negotiations to end the war.
But while the negotiations yielded a fragile ceasefire, talks have failed to progress further, with the US and Iran seemingly deadlocked.
"Pakistan will continue its peace efforts with utmost sincerity and we hope to host the next round of talks very soon," Sharif said on X.
The Pakistani prime minister said a phone call between several leaders from the Middle East and the US president had "provided a useful opportunity to exchange views on the current regional situation and how to move the ongoing peace efforts forward to bring lasting peace in the region." https://p.dw.com/p/5EFMf Show more posts
