Iran cast fresh doubt over the prospects of reaching a framework agreement with the United States on Sunday after Israeli airstrikes on Beirut complicated diplomatic efforts to end months of conflict across the Middle East.
The proposed agreement, expected by U.S. President Donald Trump and Pakistani mediators to be signed Sunday, faced growing uncertainty after Iran’s chief negotiator questioned Washington’s ability to uphold its commitments while Israel continued military operations against Iranian-backed groups in neighboring Lebanon.
Qatari negotiators arrived in Tehran on Sunday morning in an effort to finalize the framework agreement, according to a source familiar with the talks who spoke to Reuters. However, optimism surrounding the negotiations faded rapidly following Israel’s latest strikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs.
Iranian negotiator Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said the attacks demonstrated that the United States either lacked the willingness or the influence to ensure Israel refrained from actions that could undermine the peace process.
“If you lack the will and ability to fulfil your commitments, speaking of continuing the path is not possible,” Qalibaf wrote on X, in remarks widely interpreted as a direct reference to the ongoing negotiations.
The latest Israeli operation targeted what the Israeli military described as Hezbollah positions in Beirut’s Dahiyeh district after three projectiles were launched toward communities in northern Israel, which Israel said violated the ceasefire in Lebanon. Lebanese civil defense officials reported that three people were killed in the strikes.
Iran’s Deputy Commander Mohammad Jafar Assadi warned that Israel’s actions would not go unanswered, according to Iranian state media, further heightening concerns that regional tensions could derail the diplomatic initiative.
The conflict began after the United States and Israel launched military operations against Iran on Feb. 28, triggering a broader regional confrontation involving Hezbollah in Lebanon and attacks affecting Gulf states hosting U.S. military bases. The escalation has also disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy corridor, contributing to higher oil prices worldwide.
Israel has repeatedly stated that it is not a party to the proposed U.S.-Iran agreement and maintains that it will preserve operational freedom against Hezbollah inside Lebanon regardless of ongoing diplomatic efforts.
According to Fox News, citing an unidentified diplomat involved in the negotiations, the Israeli strikes have complicated efforts to finalize the agreement and were viewed by some participants as an attempt to undermine the diplomatic process. Israeli officials did not immediately respond to that claim.
The proposed framework reportedly includes significant concessions from both sides. A senior Iranian official told Reuters that Washington would release approximately $25 billion in frozen Iranian assets while easing sanctions on Iranian oil exports. In return, Tehran would commit not to produce or acquire nuclear weapons and reopen the Strait of Hormuz to international shipping.
President Trump said Saturday that the framework agreement was expected to be signed on his 80th birthday and later wrote on Truth Social that the Strait of Hormuz would immediately reopen once the agreement took effect. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also expressed confidence that an electronic signing ceremony could be followed by technical negotiations later this week.
Despite those optimistic statements, Iranian officials continued to signal caution. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said before Trump’s announcement that an agreement would not be signed Sunday but could still be completed “in the coming days.” Iran’s Fars news agency later reported that Tehran had yet to make a final decision while political, legal and technical reviews continued.
Draft terms described to Reuters by multiple sources indicate Iran would maintain the current status of its nuclear program during a 60-day negotiation period, refraining from uranium enrichment beyond existing levels or expanding its nuclear facilities until a comprehensive agreement is reached.
A U.S. official said the eventual objective remains the dismantling of Iran’s nuclear program, including the removal and destruction of its stockpile of highly enriched uranium. Iranian officials, however, said the current draft would instead allow Tehran to dilute enriched uranium domestically, maintaining that the country has never sought to develop nuclear weapons.
Even as negotiators continued working toward an agreement, political opposition intensified inside Iran. Demonstrators at pro-government rallies on Saturday criticized any potential compromise with Washington, with witnesses telling Reuters that protesters chanted slogans demanding the resignation of officials involved in the negotiations.
The competing diplomatic efforts and renewed military escalation underscore the fragile nature of the proposed agreement, leaving uncertainty over whether months of conflict can give way to a lasting political settlement.
