The Trump administration is pursuing a potential agreement with Iran to end the conflict, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio saying negotiations in Qatar are advancing on key issues.
Senior U.S. officials and Iranian representatives convened in Qatar to discuss terms for resolving the war. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei stated that negotiators have reached conclusions on numerous topics, though a final agreement has not been secured.
What’s Being Negotiated
The proposed framework centers on Iran’s nuclear program and control of critical waterways in the region. Iran would reduce uranium enrichment in exchange for the U.S. lifting its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and reducing economic sanctions.
“The straits have to be open, they’re going to be open,” Rubio said during a visit to India. “What’s happening there is unlawful, it’s illegal, it’s unsustainable for the world, it’s unacceptable.”
A senior administration official confirmed that Iran has agreed to eliminate highly enriched uranium as part of the agreement. The U.S. is also focusing on establishing long-term enforcement mechanisms for enrichment restrictions, potentially spanning 20 to 30 years.
Military Operations Continue
U.S. Central Command conducted “self-defense strikes” in southern Iran on Monday targeting missile launch sites and Iranian vessels attempting to place mines in the region. “U.S. Central Command continues to defend our forces while using restraint during the ongoing cease-fire,” said Capt. Tim Hawkins, a Central Command spokesperson.
American warplanes and nearly two dozen Navy warships, including two aircraft carriers, faced threats from Iranian surface-to-air missiles during the operation.
Timeline and Next Steps
Rubio indicated that negotiations would require several additional days to finalize language in preliminary documents. “There’s a lot of talking back and forth going on about specific language in the initial document, so it’ll take a few days,” he said.
President Trump stated he would pursue either a strong agreement or no deal at all. A top administration official said the Trump team is satisfied with negotiating progress and believes Iran appears more willing to compromise following the military operation.
This story has been updated. CNN’s diplomatic team contributed to this report.
