US equity futures were slightly higher pre-bell Tuesday amid elevated Treasury yields and a continued lack of solid progress in negotiations between the US and Iran.

Dow Jones Industrial Average futures were 0.1% higher, S&P 500 futures were up 0.1%, and Nasdaq futures were 0.3% higher.

The benchmark 10-year Treasury bond yield remained at 5.221% early Tuesday after closing 5.245% Monday. The 30-year bond yield was at 5.54% after closing 5.562%.

Mediators are trying to broker a ceasefire between the US and Iran and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, but major obstacles remain, according to an Associated Press report citing regional and US officials.

An Axios report said that President Donald Trump is willing to give Iran relief from sanctions and release Iranian frozen funds in exchange for concrete steps regarding its nuclear program. Trump called the report "untrue" in a post on Truth Social, saying that he "offered them NOTHING!"

Oil prices were lower, with front-month global benchmark North Sea Brent crude down 0.7% at $97.16 per barrel and US West Texas Intermediate crude 0.7% lower at $91.89 per barrel.

The July S&P Case-Shiller home price index is scheduled for release at 9 am ET.

August job openings from the US Department of Labor's Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey, due at 10 am ET, are expected at 7.228 million, compared with 7.271 million in the prior month, according to estimates compiled by Bloomberg. The September consumer confidence index is projected to drop to 89.0 from 89.4.

Federal Reserve Governors Michelle Bowman, Christopher Waller and Michael Barr, Chicago President Austan Goolsbee, St. Louis President Alberto Musalem, and New York President John Williams are slated to speak on Tuesday.