US President Donald Trump’s envoys are attempting to negotiate a peace agreement with Iran, but uncertainty surrounds whether the officials they’re communicating with have the authority to sign off on any deal. The Trump administration has been exchanging messages with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who could potentially influence Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.
However, there is ongoing doubt about the effectiveness of these talks due to a lack of clarity over Iran’s leadership structure, particularly regarding Khamenei’s status. Some officials believe he may be wounded or even dead, while Iranian officials claim he is alive and in charge.
Due to communication challenges with Iranian officials, who are often away from phones or devices for long periods, US diplomats face difficulties gauging the regime’s willingness to make concessions. Regional sources expect an overall agreement to be far from being reached, as tensions between Iran and the US persist over issues such as safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
The ongoing war has led to a significant escalation in military operations, with 11,000 targets struck and 150 naval vessels sunk. Despite these efforts, Iran continues to fire missiles and drones toward its neighbors and maintain control over the stranglehold on the Strait of Hormuz.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2026/03/30/politics/negotiations-with-iran-trump-us