US and Iran Move Closer to Framework Deal as Pressure Campaign Appears to Deliver Results

After more than two months of escalating conflict between the United States and Iran, negotiators may finally be inching toward a diplomatic breakthrough — one that reportedly could fit on a single page.

According to a new report from Axios, U.S. and Iranian officials are now closer than ever to reaching a preliminary agreement aimed at ending the current phase of hostilities that began following Operation Epic Fury on February 28.

“Nothing has been agreed yet, but the sources said this was the closest the parties had been to an agreement since the war began,” Axios reported.

The proposed framework reportedly contains 14 key points and reflects the Trump administration’s continued insistence that Iran permanently abandon any path toward acquiring nuclear weapons.

Under the terms being discussed, Iran would be required to formally commit to never developing a nuclear weapon, halt nuclear enrichment activity, and submit to stronger international inspections of its nuclear facilities.

In exchange, the United States would begin easing sanctions in phases while also allowing access to frozen Iranian assets currently held abroad.

Financial markets reacted immediately to the possibility of de-escalation. Oil prices sharply declined after reports surfaced that a deal could be within reach.

According to NBC News, “Markets had reacted swiftly to the initial report, sending the price of U.S. crude oil plunging by as much as 15% to $88 per barrel and international Brent crude oil down as much as 11% to $96 per barrel.”

The development comes as President Donald Trump’s administration continues balancing military pressure with diplomatic outreach, a strategy many conservatives argue has restored American leverage on the world stage after years of weakness under previous leadership.

During Tuesday’s White House press briefing, Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized that Iran must do more than simply claim it does not seek nuclear weapons.

“So they have an opportunity here to agree to something that will make it clear that they are not interested in a — one thing is to say we don’t want a nuclear weapon,” Rubio said, according to a White House transcript.

“Another thing is to do the things that prove you don’t want a nuclear weapon… They’re acting like they want a military nuclear program. That’s unacceptable,” he added.

Rubio also stressed that the current diplomatic process is focused on establishing a serious framework before any final agreement is completed.

“So that’s the process we’re engaged in now to create — that’s the object of this diplomacy is to come up with some level of understanding about what are the topics that they’ve agreed to negotiate on. We don’t have to have the actual agreement written out in one day. This is highly complex and highly technical,” Rubio continued.

“But we have to have a diplomatic solution that is very clear about the topics that they are willing to negotiate on and the extent and the concessions they are willing to make at the front end in order to make those talks worthwhile.”

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that the United States would temporarily pause military escort operations for commercial vessels traveling through the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz.

The shipping corridor has faced major disruptions in recent weeks after Iranian threats and military activity forced thousands of commercial vessels to avoid the area, raising fears of a broader regional conflict and severe economic consequences worldwide.

Despite signs of progress, administration officials made clear that significant obstacles remain.

Rubio acknowledged internal divisions within Iran’s leadership while urging Tehran to make what he described as a rational decision for the future of its people.

“So look, the time has come for Iran to make a sensible choice, and it’s not easy for them to do that, obviously, because they have a fracture in their own leadership system,” he said in a statement opening the briefing.

“And apart from that, I mean, the top people in that government are — to say the least, they’re insane in the brain. And so we need to address that, and it’s difficult because it’s hard to get past that in their system. But it’s important for them to make a sensible choice and the one that’s right for their people.”

While no final agreement has been signed, the negotiations mark the most serious diplomatic opening since the conflict began — and could represent a major foreign policy victory for President Trump if a deal is ultimately secured without further military escalation.

Before the talks are finalized, however, the administration is expected to continue demanding strict verification measures to ensure Iran cannot secretly continue nuclear development behind the scenes.