The atmosphere of optimism surrounding the U.S.-Iran negotiations has diminished in recent days, after U.S. President Donald Trump sent a decisive message to his negotiating team, urging them not to rush into any agreement with Tehran, despite the rising talk of nearing an understanding that could end one of the region's most dangerous crises since the war broke out about three months ago.

In a notable shift, Trump confirmed via the "Truth Social" platform that U.S. pressure on Iran will continue, emphasizing that the maritime blockade imposed on Iranian ports and ships in the Strait of Hormuz will not be lifted until a formal agreement is signed and fully ratified.

The U.S. President stated, "Both sides must be patient and get it done the right way," reflecting Washington's caution against making quick concessions that could be interpreted as a retreat under the pressure of war.

Trump's remarks came less than 24 hours after he spoke of achieving "significant progress" in talks with Iran, which primarily focus on establishing a ceasefire and reopening the Strait of Hormuz to international navigation, after the conflict caused widespread disruption to oil and gas movement and unsettled global markets.

However, this optimism did not last long, as U.S. officials later confirmed that a final agreement is still far off, and that negotiations are proceeding at a slower pace than Washington had hoped.

A senior official in the Trump administration stated that Iran "is not moving quickly enough," despite its initial agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for lifting the U.S. maritime blockade and entering into understandings regarding its nuclear program, including the elimination of its stockpile of highly enriched uranium.

According to the U.S. official, Washington believes that Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has already approved the general framework of the agreement, but Tehran has not yet issued any official position confirming this.

Despite discussions of a "preliminary understanding," highly sensitive issues continue to obstruct reaching a final agreement, most notably the future of Iran's nuclear program, the mechanism for lifting U.S. sanctions, the release of frozen Iranian funds, as well as the fate of the enriched uranium stockpile and Iran's role in the region, especially in Lebanon.

In contrast, the Iranian news agency "Tasnim," close to the Revolutionary Guard, accused the United States of obstructing some key provisions of the agreement, primarily the issue of frozen Iranian funds abroad, reflecting the ongoing trust gap between the two sides despite the announced progress.

Another U.S. official revealed that the current proposed framework may grant negotiators a period of up to 60 days to reach a comprehensive and final agreement, while the region remains suspended on a thin diplomatic thread that could either end the war or escalate tensions anew.