The United States issued a stark warning today that military action against Iran could quickly resume if diplomatic efforts fail, as President Donald Trump insisted that any agreement with Tehran must meet key American demands, foremost among them preventing Iran from ever obtaining nuclear weapons.

While the White House has indicated that Trump is nearing a decision on a possible agreement with Iran, officials in Tehran continue to deny that a finalized deal exists to bring the conflict to an end.

According to U.S. officials who spoke with AFP, negotiators had completed work on a framework awaiting Trump’s approval. However, no final decision emerged following a meeting Friday in the White House Situation Room.

Speaking at a defense conference in Singapore, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth underscored Washington’s military readiness, declaring today that the United States was “more than capable” of restarting the war.

At the same time, U.S. Central Command emphasized its continued military presence in the region, posting on X that American forces “remain present and vigilant across the region.”

Questions surrounding the prospects for a deal intensified this week after U.S. forces struck Iran’s port city of Bandar Abbas, prompting retaliatory attacks from Iran.

Iran’s IRNA state news agency reported today that its air defense systems had intercepted and destroyed a drone “belonging to the US-Zionist aggressor enemy,” citing a military statement.

Despite the escalation, diplomatic contacts continued. Negotiators have also been discussing the conflict in Lebanon, which Iranian officials insist must be addressed as part of any broader settlement. Those talks continued even as Israeli forces advanced further into Lebanese territory and military representatives from both countries held meetings at the Pentagon.

Trump reiterated that any agreement would require Iran to permanently abandon nuclear weapons ambitions and would also involve reopening the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.

“President Trump will only make a deal that is good for America and satisfies his red lines,” a White House official told AFP, adding: “Iran can never possess a nuclear weapon.”

Iran rejected what it viewed as U.S. dictates. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei responded that the Islamic Republic “said goodbye to the language of ‘must’ 47 years ago.”

Baqaei acknowledged that communications between the two sides remain active but stressed that “no final agreement has been reached.”

In a social media post, Trump asserted that Iran would agree to clear mines from the Strait of Hormuz and reopen the waterway with “no tolls,” while the United States would end its blockade.

Trump also said both nations would work together to remove and destroy Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium, adding that “no money will be exchanged, until further notice.”

Iranian media quickly challenged those claims. The Fars news agency quoted sources who said Tehran is demanding “the immediate release of $12 billion” before advancing to the next stage of negotiations.

Those same sources disputed Trump’s characterization of the Hormuz arrangements, saying “no such clause appears in the text of the agreement,” while Trump’s claim regarding the destruction of Iran’s nuclear materials “is fundamentally baseless.”

Adding another layer of uncertainty, Iran’s ISNA news agency quoted parliament member Alireza Salimi as saying legislation “to implement Iran’s management and sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz will soon be approved by parliament.”

Meanwhile, the Tasnim news agency reported that the U.S. naval blockade remains in effect, claiming American vessels “are receiving warnings from CENTCOM to stop and not cross the blockade line.”

Conflicting narratives from both governments have left many observers uncertain about the true state of negotiations.

“Both sides are speaking in a way that keeps their supporters satisfied. It’s not clear who is telling the truth,” Ali, from Tonekabon north of Tehran, told AFP.