Iran on Monday warned that a possible truce agreement under discussion with the United States could still collapse, with Tehran accusing Washington of continuing to obstruct key clauses, particularly those related to the release of Iran’s blocked assets.

According to a statement released by Iran’s Tasnim News Agency, unresolved disagreements over the unfreezing of Iranian funds remain a major sticking point in the negotiations.

Also read: Trump calls Obama’s Iran nuclear deal ‘one of the worst ever made,’ vows Hormuz blockade until agreement signed

“US obstruction of some clauses of the agreement, including the issue of releasing Iran’s blocked assets, still continues,” Tasnim reported.

The agency added that “there is still a possibility that the agreement may be canceled."

A 72-hour window?

The comments came as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told The New York Times that negotiations with Iran were progressing with backing from several countries in the region, but cautioned against expecting a quick breakthrough.

Rubio said US President Donald Trump had instructed negotiators “not to rush into a deal” with Iran to end the three-month conflict.

“We're not kicking it till later. Nuclear talks are highly technical matters. You can't do a nuclear thing in 72 hours on the back of a napkin,” Rubio told the Times in a brief interview.

He added that Washington’s current approach had received support from regional governments.

“So right now, we have seven or eight countries in the region that are endorsing this approach, and we're prepared to move forward on this approach,” Rubio said.

Also read: ‘End of 50 years of insecurity’: Iran claims legal authority to manage Hormuz Strait

Trump warns against haste

Trump on Sunday said that negotiations with Iran on a new nuclear understanding were moving in an “orderly and constructive manner,” but stressed that Washington would not rush into an agreement.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the blockade would remain in place until any agreement was “reached, certified, and signed.”

“There can be no mistakes,” Trump said, adding that he had instructed US negotiators not to hurry because “time” was on Washington’s side.

The US president also repeated his longstanding position that Iran must never be allowed to develop or obtain a nuclear weapon.

Trump contrasted the ongoing negotiations with the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, which he described as “one of the worst deals ever made” and “a direct path to Iran developing a nuclear weapon.”

The Obama-era agreement had seen the United States, along with China, France, Germany, Russia and the United Kingdom, lift sanctions on Iran in exchange for restrictions on Tehran’s nuclear programme. Trump withdrew Washington from the deal in 2018, arguing it merely delayed Iran’s nuclear ambitions rather than permanently stopping them.

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Hormuz Strait emerges as another flashpoint

Even as negotiations continue, Tehran has also asserted control over the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, with senior Iranian officials framing it as a matter of national security.

Mohsen Rezaei, a military adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader, said Iran’s management of the waterway was Tehran’s “legal right” and would mark “the end of 50 years of insecurity” in the Persian Gulf.

The remarks came after Trump claimed Washington and Tehran had “largely negotiated” a memorandum of understanding aimed at reopening the strait after months of conflict.

“Final aspects and details of the deal are currently being discussed, and will be announced shortly,” Trump wrote.

Meanwhile, Benjamin Netanyahu said he had discussed the proposed framework and upcoming nuclear negotiations with Trump, stressing that any final agreement must dismantle Iran’s enrichment facilities and remove enriched uranium from Iranian territory.

Despite growing expectations of a possible breakthrough, disagreements remain over several clauses in the proposed understanding, particularly those linked to sanctions relief, Iranian assets, and future nuclear restrictions.