'Negotiating On Fumes’: Trump Says Iran Has ‘No Choice’ But To Make Deal, Rules Out Sanctions Relief

Amid talks on peace deal, US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said Iran is “negotiating on fumes” while emphasising that Tehran will not get sanctions relief even if they give up their highly enriched uranium.

During a press conference, Trump said: “They want very much to make a deal. So far, they haven’t gotten there. We’re not satisfied with it, but we will be — either that or we’ll have to just finish the job… They’re negotiating on fumes, but we’ll see what happens.”

“No, no, not at all. Not sanctions relief, no,” PBS News quoted Trump saying during a short phone call when asked if the current deal would mean that Iran would give up their highly enriched uranium in exchange for sanctions relief.

.@POTUS on Iran: “They want very much to make

a deal. So far, they haven’t gotten there. We’re not satisfied with it, but we will be — either that or we’ll have to just finish the job… They’re negotiating on fumes, but we’ll see what happens.” pic.twitter.com/eZDKq4RLHO

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) May 27, 2026

He added, “They’re gonna give up their highly enriched uranium not for sanctions, relief. No, no, not at all.”

Meanwhile, the White House rejected a report by Iranian state television claiming that Tehran and Washington had reached a draft framework agreement to end the West Asia conflict, calling the claims a “complete fabrication”.

The Iranian report had cited an alleged draft outline of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which it said included provisions for the United States to lift a naval blockade on Iran and withdraw its forces from the Gulf region as part of a broader de-escalation arrangement.

The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most strategically important shipping corridors, carrying a major share of global oil and LNG trade. Any disruption in traffic through the narrow waterway has immediate consequences for global energy prices and supply chains.

According to Iranian State TV, cited by Reuters, the proposed framework envisages commercial maritime traffic through the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz returning to pre-war levels if American forces withdraw from Iran’s vicinity and the US lifts its naval blockade. The report said the framework specifically excludes military vessels and broadly proposes that Tehran would manage commercial shipping through the waterway in coordination with Oman.

Responding sharply, the White House dismissed the report in strong terms and urged the public not to believe it. The White House said in a post on X (formerly Twitter), “This report from Iranian controlled media is not true and the MOU they ‘released’ is a complete fabrication. Nobody should believe what Iranian state media is putting out. FACTS MATTER.”