Arab diplomatic sources told Al-Jadeed that US-Iranian negotiations have made significant progress and that their course will become clearer on Friday.

The Friday date is new. The claim is not. Talk of progress has come almost daily without a signed framework, and the US has approved a Qatari-drafted memorandum that Iran has not accepted. On Tuesday Iran denied any new development and called Washington's response unconvincing.

Iran's position has not moved in public. A senior Iranian official told Reuters on Tuesday that mediators are working to narrow the gap with Washington but that a deal is far off, and that Hormuz stays closed until Tehran's conditions are met. Reuters reports those conditions include waiving oil sanctions, ending the US naval blockade and releasing frozen Iranian funds. On Monday Iran said it had not yet reached the stage of nuclear negotiations with the US.

That gap between what the mediators say and what Tehran says is the story. Words about progress are claims until a reply, a signature or a change on Hormuz follows. A Friday that brings a concrete step would mean something. A Friday that brings another round of proposals would extend the pattern.

Qatari mediators went to Tehran on Monday night to discuss a version of the draft deal, which Reuters says has been under discussion for eight days. An official briefed on the talks told Reuters that feedback from Washington and Tehran was expected within 36 hours on a new mediator suggestion both sides are studying.

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