Iran Nuclear Talks Stall as Internal Power Struggle Disrupts U.S. Diplomacy.
Trump says nuclear talks are advancing. Reports from the region suggest Iran’s Revolutionary Guards are blocking negotiations from within.
Diplomatic efforts between Iran and the United States have stalled after senior members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards reportedly blocked Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi from attending planned talks with U.S. envoys in Doha.
According to sources cited by Israel Hayom, Araghchi was prevented from traveling to Qatar for meetings with U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. His deputy, Kazem Gharibabadi, was reportedly sent instead but was also barred from holding direct talks with the American delegation. These claims have not been independently verified.
The reported dispute reflects an apparent power struggle inside Iran. According to the sources, Araghchi favors continued diplomacy, while elements within the Revolutionary Guards are attempting to derail negotiations.
A major obstacle remains the Strait of Hormuz. The report says Tehran is demanding long-term authority over tanker traffic through the strategic waterway. Washington has reportedly rejected that proposal and continues to insist on unrestricted commercial navigation.
The disagreement has left formal negotiations at an impasse.
Despite the deadlock, technical discussions reportedly continued in Doha through Qatari mediators. U.S. and Iranian officials did not meet directly, according to the report.
President Donald Trump nevertheless expressed optimism.
“There were very good talks. The dismantling of Iran’s nuclear weapons is going well,” Trump said while traveling aboard a plane gifted by Qatar.
Inside Washington, however, the report says some officials are growing frustrated with the lack of progress. Critics reportedly argue that Iran continues to benefit from sanctions relief and increased oil exports while key parts of the proposed agreement remain unimplemented.
According to the report, Iran is earning hundreds of millions of dollars each day from renewed oil sales. It is also expected to regain access to billions of dollars in previously frozen assets. The report claims oversight mechanisms for those funds have yet to be fully established.
Meanwhile, U.S. naval forces continue escorting commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz despite ongoing security incidents, the report said.
Iranian officials have publicly signaled that major disagreements remain. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Tehran would not implement the remaining provisions of the proposed memorandum of understanding until its initial conditions are met. Those conditions reportedly include ending military operations across all fronts, including Lebanon, and recognizing what Iran describes as its rights in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry has also denied that formal negotiations with the United States have resumed.
The reported divisions highlight the competing centers of power inside Iran. While President Masoud Pezeshkian has defended diplomacy and said the memorandum was coordinated with Iran’s leadership, reports suggest the Revolutionary Guards continue to wield significant influence over the country’s security and foreign policy decisions.
For now, the future of U.S.-Iran negotiations remains uncertain. Diplomatic channels remain open through regional mediators, but major political and strategic differences continue to block a comprehensive agreement.
