The Wall Street Journal, citing mediators involved in the effort, reported that the chances of a US-Iran ceasefire remain limited. According to those sources, Iran never asked for a halt to attacks on its energy facilities, a claim that conflicts with President Trump’s public statement that Washington paused strikes for 10 days at Iran’s request.
Mediators said Iranian officials have shown interest in taking part in talks, but any decision still depends on approval from the country’s top leadership. At this stage, Tehran has not actively sought a ceasefire window, and Iran has yet to give a final response to the US proposal described as a 15-point plan.
The 15-point proposal runs into resistance on missiles and uranium enrichment
According to the report, the US framework is built around easing harsh economic sanctions in exchange for Iranian concessions across several disputed areas. Those include its nuclear program, missile development, and support for regional armed groups.
Iran’s response has been firm. Mediators said Tehran wants Washington to scale back conditions it considers excessive before formal talks can begin. On the central issues, Iran has rejected making its missile program an opening item for negotiation and is unwilling to commit to a permanent end to uranium enrichment. With both sides putting forward terms the other side finds hard to accept, the deadlock remains in place.
Hormuz tanker passage seen as symbolic, not a breakthrough
While military pressure and diplomacy continue in parallel, Iran recently allowed several oil tankers flying the Pakistani flag to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Trump described that move as a “gift” from Iran’s leadership to the United States and said it showed Tehran was interested in advancing the negotiation process.
Mediators do not see it that way. In their view, the gesture has not produced any material progress, and the standoff over core demands is still unresolved. The gap between symbolic signals and actual negotiation terms remains wide.
Bitcoin still reacts to every turn in the standoff
For crypto markets, each twist in the US-Iran story continues to shape risk sentiment. The source material said that reports of Iranian interest in talks briefly pushed Bitcoin up by more than 5%, sending it above $71,000. If fears of a breakdown in negotiations rise again, oil prices and other risk assets could come under pressure.
The OECD has also warned that if conflict in the Middle East keeps spreading, US inflation could climb to 4.2%, raising the likelihood that the Federal Reserve delays rate cuts. That keeps ceasefire developments closely tied to short-term moves in Bitcoin and broader market pricing.