Senior officials in the Trump administration are privately admitting that President Donald Trump’s public statements on social media and media interviews have seriously damaged delicate ceasefire talks with Iran, according to people familiar with the negotiations.
On Friday, while Pakistani officials met with Iranian leaders days ago, Trump posted on Truth Social and spoke to reporters and claimed that Iran had already accepted several major U.S. demands and that the war was about to end.
But sources close to the discussions say those points have not yet been settled.
One person with direct knowledge of the talks described the reaction in Tehran, saying Iran was not impressed with the move that Trump made.
“The Iranians didn’t appreciate POTUS negotiating through social media and making it appear as if they had signed off on issues they hadn’t yet agreed to,” the source said as quoted by CNN on Monday, April 20.
Trump’s social media posts
After seeing Trump’s social media posts and interviews, Iranian officials were worried that appearing to give in would make them seem weak at home, where hardliners already oppose any compromise with the United States.
Trump repeatedly declared victory or issued threats on social media during the conflict, which began earlier this year between Israel, the U.S., and Iran.
He went even further, saying that Tehran had agreed to important terms concerning the Strait of Hormuz and other issues causing problems.
In reality, those details remained under discussion, and the public claims created immediate friction.
Iranian mistrust of the U.S. runs deep, and Trump’s comments made things worse. Diplomats say the posts left Iranian negotiators scrambling to explain to their own side why the Americans were announcing deals that had not been finalized.
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The Trump team’s preference for bold, public messaging, versus Iran’s need for quiet, face-saving talks, complicated the deal they hoped for.
Adding to the picture further is a clear split inside Iran’s own ranks. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi lead the negotiating effort.
Both have ties to more pragmatic factions and have pushed for a deal to ease the economic pain from U.S. sanctions and the naval blockade.
But the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) takes a much harder line. U.S. officials see real tension between the civilian diplomats and the IRGC commanders, eliciting questions about who can actually deliver a final agreement.
The IRGC controls significant military and economic levers and has shown little interest in appearing to bow to American pressure.
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Some reports suggest IRGC-linked voices pushed back quickly against any suggestion that the Strait of Hormuz was fully open without conditions.
That internal divide has slowed progress and made it harder for Ghalibaf and Araghchi to secure concessions amid a fragile two-week ceasefire brokered with Pakistani help, which is now nearing its end.
Talks in Islamabad earlier this month, led by Vice President JD Vance along with envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, ran for hours but produced no breakthrough. A new round is supposed to commence on Wednesday.
At the center of the dispute sits the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway through which much of the world’s oil flows.
Iran has used its position there as leverage, while the U.S. has maintained a blockade on Iranian ports.
Lasting solution
Any lasting deal would need to address reopening the Strait fully, lifting the blockade, and setting limits on Iran’s nuclear program, all while satisfying hardliners on both sides.
Trump’s approach has mixed public optimism with stark warnings. He has repeatedly said a fair deal is on the table, yet he has also threatened to strike Iranian power plants and bridges if Tehran does not come around.
So far, Pakistani mediators have tried to keep both sides at the table, but Iranian officials have complained about “excessive demands” and shifting U.S. positions.
For their part, American negotiators point to Iran’s internal power struggles as a major obstacle.
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