The Trump administration and Iranian officials are negotiating the final details of a potential agreement to end the war, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio warning that the Strait of Hormuz must be reopened.
President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and other administration officials have been working to finalize a deal to conclude the conflict. Negotiations are taking place in Qatar as both sides discuss specific language in the initial agreement.
Military Strikes Amid Negotiations
U.S. Central Command conducted what it described as “self-defense strikes” in southern Iran on Monday to protect American forces from threats posed by Iranian military assets. The strikes targeted 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. Some American warplanes and Navy warships, including two aircraft carriers, encountered threats from Iranian surface-to-air missiles near the Iranian port and navy base at Bandar Abbas.
Negotiation Progress and Conditions
Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said Tehran and Washington have reached conclusions on many subjects under discussion. “It is correct to say that we have reached a conclusion on a large portion of the issues under discussion,” Baqaei said, while cautioning that a final agreement is not imminent.
“The straits have to be open, they’re going to be open,” Rubio said during a trip to India, describing current conditions as “unlawful, illegal, unsustainable for the world, and unacceptable.” Rubio added that negotiations involve significant back-and-forth over specific language and would require several more days.
Deal Framework and Sanctions Relief
A top administration official said Iran has agreed to eliminate highly enriched uranium as part of a potential agreement. In exchange, the U.S. would lift its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and ease economic sanctions if Iran commits to reducing nuclear enrichment.
The Trump administration has expressed satisfaction with negotiation progress despite remaining details to finalize. Officials indicated that Iran appears more receptive to making concessions following recent military operations.
Trump stated that any deal reached would be “good and proper,” contrasting his approach with the Obama administration’s 2015 nuclear agreement. The current negotiations would go further than the previous accord, which permitted enrichment up to specified levels.
This story has been updated. CNN’s reporting team contributed to this report.
