The United States has shown flexibility ​on allowing Iran ‌to maintain limited peaceful nuclear ​activities under ⁠the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency, a senior ‌Iranian source told Reuters on Monday (May 18, 2026).

The ‌source said that ‌on ⁠the issue of ⁠Iran’s frozen assets, however, Washington has so far only agreed ​to free ‌one quarter of those assets according to a phased timetable. Iran wants ‌the U.S. to reconsider ​both positions, the source said.

In its ⁠new proposal, the source said, Iran has ‌again focused on securing an end to the war, reopening the Strait of Hormuz, and lifting maritime ‌sanctions.

The more contentious issues ​around Iran’s nuclear programme and uranium enrichment, which ⁠remain the most difficult ⁠parts of the negotiations, have been ‌deferred to later rounds of talks.