Trump tightens terms on Iran war deal, US media say | Donald Trump News
US Officials Expect Delayed Response from Iran Amid Heightened Negotiations
By Al Jazeera Staff
May 31, 2026
U.S. officials anticipate that Iran may take several days to respond to President Donald Trump’s amended terms regarding a potential agreement to end the ongoing conflict with Israel. This assessment comes as a finalized deal remains out of reach.
According to The New York Times, Trump has proposed to strengthen specific elements of the agreement concerning Iran, which the U.S. has put forward for Iran’s consideration. The modifications reportedly focus on critical issues, including the management of Iran’s nuclear materials.
A senior U.S. official, speaking with Axios, indicated that the Iranian response could be delayed by up to three days. “They’re literally in caves, and they’re not using email,” the official noted, highlighting the difficulties in communication.
The official expressed optimism but acknowledged uncertainty regarding the timeline for a deal, stating, “We’re willing to wait so the president gets what he asks for. It could be a week. It could be less. It could be more. At the turn of the week, we hope to have something.”
These adjustments to the proposal may extend negotiations as both parties weigh the implications of any agreement aimed at ceasing hostilities that began following a U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran on February 28.
Reports from U.S. sources detail that Trump has yet to give his final approval after a recent Situation Room meeting. His key priorities for any potential deal include assurances that Iran will not pursue nuclear weapons and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime corridor for global oil transportation.
On the ground, the Iranian military’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters reiterated its control over the Strait, warning that foreign commercial and military vessels would face consequences for non-compliance with navigation regulations.
Tehran continues to assert that it has no intention of developing nuclear weapons. In a congressional testimony in March 2025, Tulsi Gabbard, the former U.S. director of national intelligence, stated that Washington “continues to assess that Iran is not building a nuclear weapon.”
