President Donald Trump and senior administration officials, including Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, are finalizing details of a potential agreement to end hostilities with Iran, as diplomatic talks continue in Qatar.
Speaking during a visit to India, Rubio underscored the urgency of reopening the Strait of Hormuz, stating the waterway must be accessible “one way or the other.” “The straits have to be open, they’re going to be open,” Rubio said. He described the current situation as “unlawful, illegal, unsustainable for the world” and “unacceptable.” Rubio noted ongoing discussions in Qatar and indicated that negotiations focus on specific language in an initial document, predicting progress could take several days. President Trump has emphasized securing “a good deal or no deal,” according to Rubio.
The diplomatic efforts follow U.S. military action on Monday. U.S. Central Command described the strikes in southern Iran as “self-defense” measures to protect American troops from threats by Iranian forces. Targets included missile launch sites and Iranian vessels attempting to deploy mines, Central Command spokesperson Capt. Tim Hawkins said. Hawkins added that U.S. forces continue to exercise restraint during the existing cease-fire, which has been in effect for approximately six weeks.
The strikes occurred near the Iranian port and naval base at Bandar Abbas. Dozens of American warplanes and nearly two dozen Navy warships, including two aircraft carriers, have been enforcing a blockade in the Gulf of Oman and Arabian Sea. A senior U.S. military official reported that some assets faced threats from Iranian surface-to-air missiles.
Iranian officials acknowledged advancements in the talks. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei confirmed that Tehran and Washington have reached understandings on “a large portion of the issues,” though he cautioned that a final agreement is not imminent and accused the U.S. of shifting positions.
A senior Trump administration official said Sunday that Iran has agreed in principle to eliminate highly enriched uranium. Under the emerging framework, Iran would reopen the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for the lifting of the U.S. blockade. Further sanctions relief would follow verified reductions in nuclear enrichment. The official described the prospective deal as more robust than the 2015 Obama-era agreement, with strong enforcement mechanisms prioritized over specific timeframes.
President Trump has criticized the previous administration’s approach, alleging it provided Iran with “massive amounts of CASH” and a pathway to nuclear weapons. Administration sources indicated optimism, noting Iran appears more amenable to compromise following recent military operations. Work continues on finalizing specific terms.
