World
Iran Says Deal With United States Not Imminent as Secretary of State Predicted Monday Agreement
📅 May 25, 2026 10:00 ET
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GazetaDay Editorial
Iran stated that a nuclear agreement with the United States is not imminent, pushing back against earlier remarks by the U.S. secretary of state who had suggested a deal could be reached as early as Monday.
Diplomatic Timeline Contradicted
The Iranian government’s assessment directly contradicts the timeline outlined by the U.S. secretary of state, who said on an unspecified earlier date that an agreement could possibly come on Monday, May 25, 2026. No further details on the specific meeting or venue for a potential signing were provided by either side.
Status of Washington-Tehran Talks
The current round of Washington-Tehran talks has focused on reviving the nuclear agreement, with diplomatic progress described as uneven. Iranian officials have repeatedly emphasized that outstanding issues remain unresolved, particularly regarding sanctions relief and verification mechanisms.
Context
This is not the first time public predictions of a near-term deal have been contradicted. In 2015, negotiators repeatedly missed self-imposed deadlines before finalizing the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. More recently, in 2022, indirect U.S.-Iran talks in Vienna were declared close to conclusion by multiple parties only to stall for months over remaining gaps on enrichment and sanctions.
Iran nuclear dealUS-Iran relationsSecretary of StatediplomacyMiddle East2026 negotiationsMay 2026