The Trump administration and Iranian officials are working toward a potential agreement to end hostilities, with negotiations in Qatar advancing on key nuclear and maritime issues.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said talks were ongoing in Qatar to finalize details of a possible accord. The discussions come weeks after a ceasefire took effect between American and Iranian forces, though military tensions have persisted in the region.
What Negotiators Are Discussing
Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said both nations have reached agreement on “a large portion of the issues under discussion,” though he cautioned that a final deal remains distant. “But to say that this means the signing of an agreement is imminent-no one can make such a claim,” he stated.
A senior administration official said Sunday that Iran has agreed in principle to eliminate highly enriched uranium stockpiles. In exchange, the United States would lift its naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and ease economic sanctions.
Rubio emphasized that reopening the Strait of Hormuz is non-negotiable. “The straits have to be open, they’re going to be open,” he said during a trip to India. “What’s happening there is unlawful, it’s illegal, it’s unsustainable for the world, it’s unacceptable.”
Military Operations Continue
U.S. Central Command conducted what it described as “self-defense strikes” in southern Iran on Monday against missile launch sites and Iranian vessels attempting to place mines. Captain Tim Hawkins, a Central Command spokesperson, said the strikes were conducted “to protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces.”
American warplanes and nearly two dozen Navy warships, including two aircraft carriers, have enforced a blockade against Iranian ports in the Gulf of Oman and Arabian Sea. Some vessels came under fire from Iranian surface-to-air missiles, according to a senior U.S. military official.
What Comes Next
Officials said the Trump administration is optimistic about negotiations, noting that Iran appears more willing to reach agreement following recent military operations. Negotiators are focusing on enforcement mechanisms for any uranium enrichment restrictions, with officials suggesting the commitment length-whether 20 or 30 years-matters less than how violations would be prevented.
Rubio said final agreement could take several days. “I think it’s a lot of talking back and forth going on about specific language in the initial document,” he said. “The president expressed his desire to make it. He’s either going to make a good deal or no deal.”
President Trump stated that any agreement would be “good and proper,” distinguishing his approach from the Obama administration’s 2015 nuclear accord, which Trump has criticized as insufficiently restrictive on Iranian enrichment activities.
This story has been updated. CNN’s International and Defense teams contributed to this report.
