As the escalating US-Iran conflict destabilises global energy markets and impacts neighbouring nations, President Donald Trump faces a delicate balancing act ahead of the November elections.
Trump left a crucial two-hour meeting in the White House Situation Room on Saturday without a breakthrough, leaving a potential deal to end the war entirely undecided.
"President Trump will only make a deal that is good for America and satisfies his redlines. Iran can never possess a nuclear weapon," said the White House official.
The New York Times reported that, though the deal is close, matters including unfreezing of funds for the Iranians are being deliberated upon.
Trump on Friday morning said that he would meet in a secure White House room to make a 'final determination' on the proposal, which would extend an early-April truce for another 60 days, giving negotiators time to forge a permanent end to the war.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said that Iran will clear the mines it laid in the Strait of Hormuz, the US will lift the naval blockade, and ships will start moving.
"Iran must agree that it will never have a Nuclear Weapon or Bomb. The Hormuz Strait must be immediately open, no tolls, for unrestricted shipping traffic, in both directions," Trump said, adding that nuclear material would be "unearthed" by the US.
Meanwhile, Iranian media reported that Trump's comments were an "attempt to portray a fabricated victory".
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said that no agreement has been finalised with the United States yet.
We are focused on "ending the war", Baghaei added.
"We have no talk on details of the issues pertaining to Iran's uranium enrichment or enriched uranium at this stage," he said.
Baghaei also said that the management of the strait "concerns only Iran and Oman".
The US has sought the reopening of the critical waterways through which 20 per cent of the world's oil passes. It has also sought the removal of mines within 30 days.
Meanwhile, Iran wants any deal to also include a truce between Israel and Iran-backed by Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Iran also sought the release of around $24 billion in frozen Iranian assets abroad as part of the agreement.
