Iran war: No deal close despite some progress — Tehran

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AdvertisementSkip next section What you need to know

What you need to know

• US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says "there is a pretty solid thing" agreed on the path to a deal as exchanges continue between Washington and Tehran
• Iran has poured cold water on US claims that an agreement to end the conflict is near
• Oil prices nonetheless fell more than 4% to two-week lows on Monday amid optimism that a deal could be in sight

Here is a roundup of the latest developments from the Iran war and the wider Middle East on Monday, May 25: 

Skip next section Iran conducts further protest-related execution — judiciary05/25/2026May 25, 2026

Iran conducts further protest-related execution — judiciary

 Iran on Monday executed a man convicted of carrying out armed attacks during the nationwide anti-government protests at the start of the year, the judiciary said, with the hanging the latest in a series carried out since war broke out on February 28.

 "Abbas Akbari ... was hanged this morning," the judiciary's Mizan Online website reported.

It called Akbari "one of the armed leaders" amid protests in the central province of Isfahan, saying he "opened fire in the street at security forces" and carried out other attacks in the town of Nain.

Charges against him included "moharebeh" — waging war against God — the judiciary said.

On Sunday, another man was hanged after being convicted of espionage. It was the first reported execution linked to spying accusations during the war.

Iran is second only to China in the number of executions it carries out, according to rights groups including Amnesty International.

https://p.dw.com/p/5EHM1Skip next section Deal with Iran well on its way — US' Rubio05/25/2026May 25, 2026

Deal with Iran well on its way — US' Rubio

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Monday the US and Iran had "a pretty solid thing" with regards to a deal to end the conflict, warning, however, that "alternatives" would be explored if no diplomatic solution was reached.

There is "a pretty solid thing on the table in terms of their ability to open up the straits, get the straits open, enter into ​a very ‌real, significant, time-limited negotiation on ​the nuclear ⁠matter, and hopefully we can ⁠pull ​it off," Rubio told reporters in the Indian capital, New Delhi, where he has been on an official visit.

The remarks come after US President Donald Trump said Sunday that he had told his negotiators not to "rush" the deal, which he said on Saturday had been "largely negotiated."

Iran's Tasnim news agency, however, said on Sunday that as far as it knew, key clauses of a possible deal remained "unresolved at this time," including the issue of frozen Iranian assets.

https://p.dw.com/p/5EHLtSkip next section Oil prices fall amid deal hopes05/25/2026May 25, 2026

Oil prices fall amid deal hopes

Oil prices fell to their lowest point in two weeks amid reports that the US and Iran are approaching a peace deal.

Brent crude futures fell $4.71 (€4.05), or 4.55%, ​to $98.83 (€84.88) a barrel ‌by 2234 GMT, while US West Texas Intermediate was at $92.03 a barrel, down $4.57, or 4.73%.

Both contracts reached their lowest level since ‌May 7 earlier in the session.

Oil prices have spiralled since the war in Iran broke out, largely because the virtual closure of the Strait of Hormuz has cut off a vital transport chokepoint.

Middle East oil shock fuels biodiesel boom

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https://p.dw.com/p/5EHT2Skip next section Welcome to our coverage05/25/2026May 25, 2026

Welcome to our coverage

Timothy Jones | Richard Connor Editor

The current war in Iran and the Middle East, triggered by a US-Israeli offensive that began on February 28, is still ongoing, though mitigated by a ceasefire that went into effect on April 8.

The US and Iran have issued conflicting statements on how close they are to reaching a deal on ending the conflict, with each side voicing demands that the other will so far not accept.

DW will be looking at those faltering steps toward peace, the economic turmoil unleashed by the war and events connected with the simmering conflict.

https://p.dw.com/p/5EHLkSkip next section No agreement with US imminent — Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman05/25/2026May 25, 2026

No agreement with US imminent — Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman

 Iran said Monday that Tehran and Washington had come to an understanding over many issues pertaining to a possible peace deal but contradicted US statements suggesting a complete agreement was likely to be reached very soon.

"It is correct to say that we have reached a conclusion on a large portion of the issues under discussion," Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said during a weekly news briefing. 

"But to say that this means the signing of an agreement is imminent — no one can make such a claim," he said, saying Washington had been contradictory and inconsistent in its statements.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said a deal to end the war could be concluded on Monday.

 Baqaei also said that a 14-point framework plancurrently  being drafted by Iran "is focused on ending the war" across the region, including in Lebanon and repeated that details regarding Iran's nuclear program would be discussed only after both sides agreed on that framework.

He said the Iranian plan contained clauses on ending the US naval blockade on Iranian ports and arrangements for safe transit through the Strait of Hormuz, a key global chokepoint for oil and gas transport that has been virtually closed amid the conflict
     

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