US And Iran Inch Toward Deal As Pakistan-Mediated Talks Advance, But Uranium And Hormuz Remain Major Obstacles

US-Iran diplomacy showed cautious movement in the past 12 hours, with Pakistan continuing to play a central mediating role as Washington and Tehran remain locked in disputes over Iran’s uranium program and the Strait of Hormuz.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi in Tehran on Friday, in the latest round of shuttle diplomacy aimed at bridging the gap between the two sides. Regional media reported that Naqvi has been carrying proposals between Washington and Tehran, including the latest US draft, while Iran has yet to give a formal reply.

Officials and media reports said the discussions focused on two core issues: how to handle Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile and whether any future arrangement could include a payment or toll system for ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has reportedly been exploring a mechanism with Oman that would allow it to collect fees from vessels transiting the waterway, a move Washington has strongly rejected.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said there had been “some slight progress” in efforts to end the conflict and a “little bit of movement” in the talks, but he warned that major gaps remain. He repeated Washington’s position that Iran must never obtain nuclear weapons and said any Iranian attempt to charge for passage through Hormuz would make a deal unworkable.

President Donald Trump has also signaled both pressure and openness, saying the negotiations are at a critical point and that the US is ready to move quickly if it does not get what he called the “right answers.” At the same time, he has suggested there is still a “good chance” of a deal if Tehran accepts Washington’s terms.

The latest reporting indicates that Pakistan has become the main diplomatic bridge between the two countries. Iranian and Pakistani outlets said the framework being discussed includes an end to hostilities, lifting of sanctions, unfreezing of Iranian assets and a path toward broader talks after a ceasefire. But the US position remains much tougher, insisting on long-term limits on enrichment, the removal of Iran’s highly enriched uranium stockpile from the country and unrestricted navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

A planned Tehran visit by Pakistan’s army chief, General Asim Munir, has reportedly been delayed as Iran continues reviewing the proposal. That delay suggests the talks are still in a fragile phase, with no final breakthrough in sight.

For now, the process appears to be moving, but only cautiously. The latest exchanges suggest diplomacy is still alive, even as both sides publicly maintain hard red lines. The coming hours are likely to determine whether this round of mediation produces a serious opening or stalls at the same familiar fault lines. 

Illustration: Perplexity