Trump cautions against haste as Iran nuclear talks remain incomplete
Washington maintains that a final agreement with Tehran is not yet concluded, emphasizing precision over speed in high-stakes diplomacy.
US President Donald Trump confirmed on 24 May 2026 that negotiations regarding a potential agreement with Iran are not yet fully concluded. Speaking as mediation efforts continue, the President described any future settlement as 'good and proper', signalling a cautious approach to finalising terms with Tehran.
This statement reinforces previous directives issued by the White House, where Trump instructed negotiators to avoid rushing the process. He previously characterised the talks as proceeding in an 'orderly and constructive manner', warning that both parties must take their time to ensure the final agreement contains no errors. The administration has maintained that Iran must clearly understand it cannot develop a nuclear weapon, a position aligned with Israel and other Western allies.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has described the progress made so far as 'significant' but explicitly noted it is 'not final'. In addition to the nuclear negotiations, Rubio hinted at potential developments concerning the Strait of Hormuz. He suggested that recent diplomatic progress could result in the waterway being 'completely open... without tolls', a shift that would impact global energy flows given that Iran controls the chokepoint through which approximately 20 per cent of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas travels.
The diplomatic focus on Iran occurs against a backdrop of heightened tensions with Cuba, where the Trump administration has identified the island nation as an 'unusual and extraordinary threat'. Following reports that Havana has acquired over 300 military drones from Russia and Iran, the US Treasury sanctioned Cuba’s intelligence agency, nine Cuban nationals, and several top Communist Party officials and generals.
Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel has warned of a 'bloodbath' should the US launch an attack, asserting Havana’s right to self-defence. While the administration suggests decisive action may follow decades of inaction, the immediate diplomatic priority remains the structured negotiation of the Iran settlement, with Washington insisting that precision in the final text is paramount.
