Iran accuses U.S. of ceasefire violation as nuclear negotiations continue

Hopes for a rapid Iran-U.S. breakthrough have dimmed after Tehran accused Washington of a “gross violation” of a ceasefire, even as officials on both sides continued to suggest that talks were still moving forward. According to CBS News, negotiators have agreed to broad principles for a possible deal, but major details remain unresolved, including Iran’s nuclear program, sanctions relief and access to the Strait of Hormuz.

The latest tension comes after U.S. strikes on Iranian targets, which Washington described as defensive action. Iranian officials said the attacks undermined the ceasefire and raised the risk that diplomacy could unravel. In a televised report, the Iranian side said the strikes hit missile sites and boats it said were involved in laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz, while Tehran also claimed to have shot down an American drone and fired at a U.S. fighter jet. Those battlefield claims have not been confirmed by the Pentagon.

Despite the escalation, President Donald Trump said negotiations were still “going nicely” and told reporters and on social media that the United States was not rushing into a deal. CBS News reported that Trump had been told the sides were “getting a lot closer” and that the latest framework being discussed could involve opening the Strait of Hormuz, some unfreezing of Iranian assets and continued talks. A senior Trump administration official said the Iranians had in principle agreed to a deal that would include the disposal of highly enriched uranium, though finalization was still underway.

Iran’s leadership, meanwhile, struck a defiant tone. The country’s supreme leader warned that regional states could “no longer be a shield for US bases,” according to the Independent. That message underscored how the conflict has widened beyond the nuclear talks themselves, with Iran linking the negotiations to broader questions of regional military pressure and U.S. presence in the Gulf.

The stakes are high because the Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important oil shipping routes, and any sustained disruption could ripple through energy markets and global trade. U.S. officials have said repeatedly that the waterway must remain open, while Iranian officials have treated access to the strait as leverage in the wider confrontation.

The talks now appear to be at a fragile stage: progress has been reported, but no final agreement has been reached, and both sides are publicly signaling that the other is responsible for delays. For now, diplomacy remains alive, but the latest strikes and accusations have made a quick peace deal much harder to achieve.