US-Iran negotiations have run into a three-part deadlock: control of the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s nearly 900-pound stockpile of highly enriched uranium, and roughly $27 billion in frozen assets. With no visible narrowing of these gaps, a broader agreement remains out of reach.
Hormuz control dispute hardens positions
Iran has rejected a US proposal for joint oversight of the Strait of Hormuz, saying the strategically important waterway must remain under Tehran’s sole authority. Iranian officials also insist the country has the right to charge fees to passing ships and treat any concession on that point as a challenge to national sovereignty. The line is firm.
According to Iranian officials, changes tied to reopening the strait will only be considered after a comprehensive peace deal is finalized. That condition has become one of the main obstacles to quick progress in the talks.
Washington is holding to the opposite view. The US regards the Strait of Hormuz as international waters and is standing by free navigation. President Donald Trump said the passage could be reopened quickly even without Iranian cooperation, and he made clear that Iran would not be allowed to impose tolls on naval transit. The contrast between the two sides became sharper as negotiations continued.
Nearly 900 pounds of enriched uranium remain at issue
The nuclear file is also stuck. The US is demanding that Iran hand over its stockpile of nearly 900 pounds of highly enriched uranium. Washington also wants Tehran to abandon its current nuclear efforts and commit to halting the development of nuclear capabilities over the long term.
Iran has submitted a counteroffer, but no workable middle ground has emerged. US officials, according to the report, see Iran’s proposal as lacking genuine commitment. That leaves the talks over uranium stocks and long-term restrictions without a clear path forward.
Compensation claims and frozen funds add pressure
Money is the third major sticking point. Iran is seeking compensation from the US for airstrikes carried out in the past six weeks, while also pressing for the release of around $27 billion in oil revenues frozen in foreign accounts.
The report says those assets are held in Iraq, Luxembourg, Bahrain, Japan, Turkey, and Germany, and have been designated for post-conflict reconstruction. Iranian negotiators view access to the funds as a vital part of the current discussions.
Washington remains reluctant on both compensation and the release of the frozen assets. That leaves all three disputes unresolved at the same time, making a breakthrough harder to reach. The report says progress on these issues appears necessary before any comprehensive agreement can be completed, with the next steps from both sides likely to shape the direction of the talks in the coming weeks.