WASHINGTON, May 20: US President Donald Trump said Thursday that Washington is dealing with “reasonable people” in ongoing negotiations with Iran, while insisting that no sanctions relief will be granted until a final agreement is reached.
Speaking to reporters, Trump said the United States is waiting for Tehran’s response to the latest proposal delivered through mediators, adding that Washington would allow “a few days” for a reply.
“We’re dealing with reasonable people,” Trump said, stressing that “we’re not doing any relief until a deal is reached” and that the US must secure “the right answer.”
The comments come as Iran is reviewing the latest US proposal transmitted via intermediary channels, according to reports cited by IRGC-linked Tasnim News Agency, which said the draft has been received in Tehran and is under consideration.
In parallel, reports from Axios, citing multiple sources, said Trump recently discussed a renewed diplomatic push with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a phone call on Tuesday, involving efforts to bridge gaps between Washington and Tehran.
According to the report, mediators including Qatar, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt have been working on revised proposals aimed at narrowing differences over Iran’s nuclear programme and broader regional issues, including the status of the Strait of Hormuz.
The Axios report said discussions have included a possible “letter of intent” framework that could lead to a 30-day negotiation period covering key issues such as nuclear restrictions and financial sanctions relief, though positions remain divided.
Sources cited in the report said there is no clarity yet on whether Iran will accept the latest draft, while Tehran continues to review the proposal through diplomatic channels.
Iranian officials have not issued an official response, though foreign ministry sources indicated that messages are being exchanged via intermediaries as part of ongoing contacts with Washington.
Meanwhile, the exchange of messages between Iran and the United States is continuing through Pakistani mediation, with Tehran’s 14-point proposal forming the basis of ongoing communication, Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson said on Wednesday.
Spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said Pakistan’s interior minister is currently in Tehran to help facilitate the diplomatic channel and support message exchanges between the two sides.
He added that contacts between Tehran and Washington have continued through intermediary channels, with discussions centred on Iran’s proposal and related responses being transmitted via Pakistan as mediator.
The spokesperson did not provide further details on the content of the latest exchanges, but confirmed that diplomatic communication remains ongoing as part of the broader mediation effort.
