Iran has said that progress has been made in negotiations with the United States over ending the Middle East war, but insisted that a final agreement is still not close.

The warning came on Monday after mixed signals from both Washington and Tehran triggered fluctuations in global oil prices, with markets initially rising on optimism before dropping again.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had suggested that a deal could be reached within hours, saying “we thought we might have some news last night,” but Iranian officials quickly pushed back on the claim.

Foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said while some issues had been resolved, it was inaccurate to suggest that a final agreement was imminent.

“No one can make such a claim,” he said, stressing that major points of disagreement remain unresolved.

He added that Iran continues to manage maritime operations in the Strait of Hormuz through what it described as service-related fees, though Washington views the move differently amid ongoing tensions over shipping routes.

US officials, however, maintained that discussions were progressing, with President Donald Trump saying negotiators had been instructed not to rush into any agreement.

The talks are being mediated by regional actors, including Pakistan and China, with diplomatic engagement continuing across multiple capitals.

Despite reports of a ceasefire since April 8, both sides remain divided on key issues, particularly Iran’s nuclear programme and regional security arrangements.

Oil prices fell by nearly five percent following renewed expectations of a possible breakthrough, highlighting global market sensitivity to developments in the talks.