Mediators scrambled Friday to salvage a framework for renewed U.S.-Iran talks and avoid military action after President Donald Trump abruptly canceled his Memorial Day weekend plans, remaining in Washington instead.
Arab and European intermediaries raced to keep negotiations alive following recent diplomatic stalling over Iran’s uranium stockpile, inspection demands, and security arrangements tied to regional waterways.
Talks remain stuck on Iran’s insistence of retaining its enriched uranium stockpile, which U.S. officials say must be reduced or removed to prevent weaponization.
Iran also pressed for expanded leverage over maritime transit in the Strait of Hormuz, including proposals that would effectively tax shipping through the strategic chokepoint, a position U.S. officials oppose outright.
Additional friction persists over sanctions relief, with Tehran seeking faster economic easing in exchange for limited nuclear constraints while the U.S. insists on stricter verification and a more phased sequence of compliance.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated negotiators had made progress but acknowledged major sticking points remained unresolved, particularly regarding Iran’s enriched uranium program and future security guarantees in the Gulf.
Trump canceled previously expected weekend travel plans, including a golf trip to New Jersey and attendance at his son Donald Trump Jr.’s wedding festivities in the Bahamas, instead staying in Washington as tensions with Iran escalated.
He said he would “try” to attend the wedding but called it “not good timing” given the Iran situation, ultimately confirming he would not attend, citing “circumstances pertaining to government” and what he described as an “important period” for U.S. national security decision-making.
The administration was preparing military strike options even as diplomacy continued, with officials and intelligence community members adjusting holiday plans amid uncertainty.
Trump’s decision to stay in Washington fueled speculation that more immediate Iran-related action could be under consideration.
Republican Senator Roger Wicker and others urged Trump to “finish what we started in Iran” and take a harder line, intensifying pressure within the GOP for an aggressive posture.
Speculation about potential military escalation increased after Trump indicated he had come within roughly an hour of authorizing strikes on Iran before pausing following renewed diplomatic outreach from Gulf states and Tehran.
Trump has continued to emphasize preference for a negotiated settlement while warning Iran of severe consequences if talks fail and U.S. nuclear demands are not met.
Iran transmitted revised proposals through intermediaries, leaving a “very good chance” of reaching a deal despite the availability of military options should diplomacy collapse.
The broader standoff follows months of escalating confrontation involving Iranian-backed attacks, Israeli operations, and repeated U.S. warnings over Iran’s nuclear and regional activities.
