Iran-US war negotiations remain deeply uncertain as political factions inside Tehran compete over how to handle Washington, while President Donald Trump continues to send mixed messages about whether diplomacy can prevent further escalation. The fragile situation has also kept global attention fixed on the Strait of Hormuz and the wider Middle East conflict.
Iran’s political landscape is increasingly divided over whether to continue talks with the United States. Rival camps within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps have backed different approaches, with one side described as more confrontational and the other as more pragmatic.
Iran International reported that despite their differences, both camps appear focused on preserving the Islamic Republic. However, the struggle over tactics has intensified in the absence of the kind of central control once associated with Ali Khamenei. That vacuum has created more room for hardline actors to test their influence and challenge negotiations. The tensions are not limited to military circles. Civilian politicians have also tried to distance themselves from ultraconservative voices, even as links to those same networks remain visible.
Trump sends mixed messages on diplomacy and war
In Washington, Trump signalled two different paths at once. On one hand, he expressed confidence that further negotiations with Tehran could take place soon in Islamabad. Conversely, he warned that more bombing could follow if the parties fail to reach an agreement before the ceasefire deadline.
Trump also said he faced no pressure to end the war quickly. At the same time, Pakistani officials appeared to be preparing for another round of U.S.-Iran talks, although Iran indicated it would not return to the table unless Washington softened its demands.
Iranian parliament speaker Mohammed Bagher Qalibaf publicly rejected negotiations “under the shadow of threats,” underscoring how difficult the diplomatic path has become. The latest military and naval developments have added a new strain to the ceasefire. The U.S. Navy seized a ship it accused of trying to evade the blockade of Iranian ports, while Iran had already disrupted shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.
Read: Trump Says Gas Prices Will Fall When Iran War Ends
That waterway is one of the world’s most important energy chokepoints, with roughly one-fifth of global oil trade normally passing through it. As tensions rose again, Brent crude climbed to just over $95 a barrel, compared with about $70 before the war began. Trump said the blockade would remain in force until Tehran agreed to a deal. Iranian officials, meanwhile, described U.S. actions as incompatible with diplomacy.
The conflict is also spreading across the region. Officials expect talks between Israel and Lebanon to resume in Washington, while Hezbollah-linked violence has continued despite the ceasefire. Casualty figures are also rising in Iran, Israel, Lebanon, and elsewhere across the region. For now, the central question is whether Iran’s competing factions, Trump’s shifting public stance, and the fragile ceasefire still leave room for diplomacy.
