The Trump administration is finalizing details of a potential agreement with Iran that would address nuclear enrichment and reopen a critical shipping strait, even as U.S. and Iranian military forces clash in the Persian Gulf.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said negotiations in Qatar are progressing but require additional time to resolve specific language in a preliminary accord. “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,” Rubio told reporters during a trip to India.
Military Operations Continue
U.S. Central Command conducted defensive strikes against Iranian military targets in southern Iran on Monday, saying the action protected American forces from threats posed by Iranian units. The strikes targeted missile launch sites and Iranian vessels attempting to deploy mines in regional waters near the Strait of Hormuz.
Captain Tim Hawkins, a Central Command spokesperson, stated that “U.S. Central Command continues to defend our forces while using restraint during the ongoing cease-fire.” The strikes occurred near the Iranian port and naval base at Bandar Abbas, according to military officials.
Dozens of American warplanes and nearly two dozen Navy warships, including two aircraft carriers, have maintained a blockade of Iranian ports in the Gulf of Oman and Arabian Sea. Iranian surface-to-air missiles targeted some of these vessels, a senior U.S. military official disclosed.
What’s Being Negotiated
Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei acknowledged that negotiators have reached agreements on “a large portion of the issues under discussion” but cautioned that a final accord remains incomplete. “To say that this means the signing of an agreement is imminent-no one can make such a claim,” Baqaei said, alleging that Washington has altered its negotiating positions.
According to an administration official, Iran has agreed in principle to eliminate highly enriched uranium as part of any final agreement. The deal would require Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for the United States lifting its naval blockade.
If Iran commits to reduced nuclear enrichment levels, the U.S. has signaled willingness to ease economic sanctions. Administration officials said the focus centers on enforcement mechanisms rather than the duration of enrichment limitations, whether 20 or 30 years.
Trump’s Position
President Trump stated that any agreement reached would be “a good and proper one,” while criticizing the 2015 nuclear accord negotiated under President Barack Obama. Trump accused the previous administration of providing Iran “massive amounts of CASH, and a clear and open path to a Nuclear Weapon.”
An administration official indicated that Iranian officials appear more receptive to dealmaking following the recent military operations. The official said the Trump administration believes negotiations are progressing favorably despite ongoing technical discussions.
This story has been updated. CNN’s reporting team contributed to this report.
