President Donald Trump and his administration have been negotiating final details on a possible deal to end the war in Iran, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio reiterating U.S. demands that the Strait of Hormuz be reopened as talks continue in Qatar.
The Trump administration has made the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz a centerpiece of negotiations with Iran. Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and numerous administration officials have been working toward what they describe as either a good deal or no deal at all.
Marco Rubio reiterated U.S. warnings during a trip to India, stating “The straits have to be open, they’re going to be open,” when asked by a reporter about U.S. strikes on Iran. “What’s happening there is unlawful, it’s illegal, it’s unsustainable for the world, it’s unacceptable,” he said.
Talks were taking place in Qatar as negotiations progressed on the specific language of an initial agreement. “There were some talks going on in Qatar today, so we’ll see if we can make progress,” Rubio said. “I think it’s a lot of talking back and forth going on about specific language in the initial document, so it’ll take a few days. The president expressed his desire to make it. He’s either going to make a good deal or no deal,” he added.
Military operations have continued alongside diplomatic efforts. Some of the dozens of American warplanes and nearly two dozen Navy warships, including two aircraft carriers and their escort ships, have been enforcing a blockade against vessels trying to enter or leave Iranian ports in or around the Gulf of Oman and Arabian Sea. These forces were threatened by Iranian surface-to-air missiles, according to a senior U.S. military official.
Iran acknowledged progress in the negotiations but cautioned that a final agreement is not imminent. “It is correct to say that we have reached a conclusion on a large portion of the issues under discussion,” foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said during a weekly news briefing. “But to say that this means the signing of an agreement is imminent—no one can make such a claim,” he said, accusing Washington of shifting its positions.
American and Iranian forces have clashed in other ways since a cease-fire took effect approximately six weeks ago. The strikes on Monday occurred as Iranian officials gathered in Qatar for the negotiations.
Under a final deal being discussed, Iran would have to reopen the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for the U.S. lifting its blockade of the waterway. If Iran agrees to lessen its nuclear enrichment, the U.S. would also be willing to ease sanctions. According to officials familiar with the talks, most parties agree on the basic ideas, and the Trump administration is pleased with how things are progressing, even though work on finishing the specifics continues.
Iran appears more open to making deals now than it did before the recent military operation, according to officials briefed on the negotiations. The administration’s approach of combining military pressure with diplomatic engagement has shaped the current state of talks as both sides work toward resolving the conflict.
