US-Iran war news highlights: Iran warns proposed deal might be cancelled over US blocking key clauses

President Donald Trump

US-Iran war news highlights: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Sunday said that Iran is prepared to reassure the world that it is not pursuing nuclear weapons, reiterating Tehran's commitment to diplomacy and regional stability amid talks with the US to achieve a complete solution to the crisis in the West Asia region.

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Pezeshkian said the Islamic Republic remains open to providing assurances that its nuclear programme is strictly peaceful in nature.

"We are ready to assure the world that we are not seeking nuclear weapons and are not seeking unrest in the region," he said, as quoted by Press TV.

Netanyahu's ‘no nuclear weapons for Iran’ condition

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that he and US President Donald Trump had agreed that any final deal with Iran must fully end the Islamic republic's "nuclear threat".

"President Trump and I agreed that any final agreement with Iran must eliminate the nuclear threat entirely. This means dismantling Iran's uranium enrichment facilities and removing enriched nuclear material from its territory," Netanyahu said in a statement.

Trump says ‘no rush’ to finalise deal

Meanwhile, Trump on Sunday said that he has told his diplomatic representatives not to rush into a deal with Iran because “time is on our side.” This comes less than a day after announcing that an agreement with Tehran had been largely negotiated.

Trump earlier shared a cryptic message with an edited image of US drones attacking Iran-flagged vessels on sea. ‘Adios’ read the text over the edited image.

Iran says it shot down Israeli spy drone in southern province

As diplomatic push to end Iran-US war showed progress over the weekend and hints of an imminent peace deal between the two sides, Iran said it downed an Israeli spying and surveillance drone in the Hormozgan province.

Negotiators are nearing a settlement that would add a 60-day ceasefire extension to the war and allow the Strait of Hormuz to reopen. Iran has set a two-month timeline for nuclear talks, while a separate 30-day period is planned for procedures related to Hormuz and the lifting of the US naval blockade, Tasnim news agency reported. This came amid reports of the US-Iran peace deal being on its final leg.

‘Good news’ may be announced within hours, US secretary of state Marco Rubio told reporters in New Delhi. He also said the US made ‘progress’ on Hormuz talks. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu is set to preside over a security meeting this evening over US-Iran peace deal concerns, Israel's Kan news agency reported.

Washington and Tehran are reportedly close to signing a peace agreement, according to a report by Axios.

What the US proposes

• Lift blockade on Iranian ports.
• Offer sanctions waivers allowing Iran to freely sell oil.
• Negotiate sanctions relief and unfreezing of Iranian funds during the 60-day period.
• Support reopening of the Strait of Hormuz with unrestricted maritime movement.

What Iran proposes

• Clear mines deployed in the Strait of Hormuz and allow ships to pass freely without tolls.
• Commit to never pursuing nuclear weapons.
• Enter talks on suspending uranium enrichment.
• Negotiate removal of its stockpile of highly enriched uranium.
• Provide verbal assurances through mediators on possible nuclear concessions.

A deal ‘largely negotiated’, says Trump

Earlier, US President Donald Trump said that a deal between the US and Iran was “largely negotiated.” An announcement was expected shortly, he said. His remarks came amid efforts from Pakistan to broker a negotiation that could potentially calm markets and pave way for the Strait of Hormuz to open.

“An agreement has been largely negotiated, subject to finalization between the United States of America, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the various other Countries,” Trump wrote in a social media post.

White House shooting

Shots were fired near the White House with Donald Trump inside as he worked to negotiate a deal with Iran, news agency AFP reported. Trump met advisers at the White House after speaking with leaders from a number of regional powers, according to Bloomberg report. These included Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Pakistan and Turkey, as well as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The discussions were about what he called a “Memorandum of Understanding pertaining to PEACE.”

Here are some key updates on the US war on Iran:

Possible truce extension by 60 days: Mediators believe they’re closing in on a deal to extend the US-Iran ceasefire by 60 days that would include a gradual opening of the Strait of Hormuz, the Financial Times said in a report. However, it still remains to be seen how the two sides would navigate on Iran's nuclear ambitions and its calls for sanctions relief.

Rubio's remarks in India: During his official visit to India, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also signaled that a resolution may be in sight. “There’s been some progress,” and it’s possible an announcement will be made in coming days, Rubio told reporters on Saturday, adding that the US stands against Iran's nuclear program. “The president’s preference is always to solve problems such as these through a negotiated diplomatic solution," he reportedly said.

Iran's key demand: According to Tasnim news agency, Iran wants that the US release a “significant portion” of its assets that are blocked abroad as a first step, with a “transparent” process for unfreezing the rest, Bloomberg said.

Trump boosts hopes for peace: In his latest remarks, Trump signaled that the US and Iran are inching closer to a resolution. In a social media post, he said that deal has been “largely negotiated” and subject to finalisation by all parties. The President reportedly said it was a “solid 50/50” on whether they would resume fighting or reach a deal, but later told CBS that both sides were “getting a lot closer” to agreement.

Suspect shot after WH shooting: US Secret Service reportedly shot a man who fired shots near the White House on Sunday while the President was still inside as he negotiated a possible Iran deal. The man, later identified as 21-year-old Nazire Best, had reportedly been pacing along the street for some time before he approached a police checkpoint, pulled a pistol from his bag and began firing indiscriminately.