Trump Urges Quick Release and Settlement Signal, US-Iran Communication Stuck in 'Human Courier' Delay for Talks

WASHINGTON, June 12 (Reuters) — The United States and Iran remain at odds over progress toward a potential agreement, even as U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed the deal is “near completion” and could be finalized as early as this weekend. Iran, however, responded via Fars News Agency that the final text has not yet won approval from its top leadership. Sources familiar with the negotiations told reporters the communication between the two nations has grown highly indirect. Security concerns for Iran’s highest leadership and existing communication restrictions mean negotiation updates must be routed through third countries before being delivered to Tehran’s underground decision-making level via human couriers—a full process that can take up to several days. U.S. proposals typically first reach Iran through intermediaries like Pakistan, then move to Tehran’s core decision-makers via non-digital means. This round-trip exchange takes 3 to 5 days, diplomats noted, creating significant delays even when talks are moving smoothly. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has publicly acknowledged this days-long feedback lag is a major obstacle to advancing negotiations. Currently, the two sides are only focused on core ceasefire and basic framework arrangements, leaving complex issues including sanctions relief, nuclear program terms, and asset arrangements for later phases. Analysts warn executing this phased plan without in-person negotiations poses far greater challenges. Former U.S. Middle East negotiator Aaron David Miller pointed out that complex agreements require weeks of intensive face-to-face talks, and the current indirect format cannot support the detailed technical terms needed to finalize such a deal. Complicating efficiency further: Iran has sharply cut back on digital communication for security reasons to avoid tracking, a move analysts say is worsening delays. Some experts believe this low-frequency communication is a deliberate tactic by Tehran to slow negotiations and gain extra strategic space. While limited indirect channels remain open—including back-and-forth exchanges between White House envoys and Iran’s foreign minister—overall progress still relies heavily on third-party mediation and non-real-time information sharing, rather than direct bilateral dialogue. Multiple diplomatic sources add that the timeline for a deal ultimately depends on the effectiveness of intermediaries and the political calculations of both sides, not the pace of direct talks.