President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and other senior officials are pressing to close a deal to end the war with Iran, even as U.S. forces remain locked in a blockade of Iranian ports and Tehran warns that a final agreement is not yet in sight.
Speaking during a trip to India, Rubio restated Washington’s demand that the Strait of Hormuz be reopened. “The straits have to be open, they’re going to be open,” he said when asked about recent U.S. strikes. “What’s happening there is unlawful, it’s illegal, it’s unsustainable for the world, it’s unacceptable.” He said the waterway would be opened “one way or the other.”
Rubio also pointed to talks underway in Qatar. “There were some talks going on in Qatar today, so we’ll see if we can make progress,” he said. “I think it’s a lot of talking back and forth going on about specific language in the initial document, so it’ll take a few days. The president expressed his desire to make it. He’s either going to make a good deal or no deal.”
The diplomatic push is taking place against a still-tense military backdrop. A senior U.S. military official said some of the dozens of American warplanes and nearly two dozen Navy warships now in the region—including two aircraft carriers and their escorts—have been threatened by Iranian surface-to-air missiles. Those ships are enforcing a blockade against vessels trying to enter or leave Iranian ports in and around the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. American and Iranian forces have also clashed in other ways since a cease-fire took effect about six weeks ago. Monday’s strikes came as Iranian officials were gathering in Qatar for negotiations aimed at ending the war.
Iran offered a cautious reading of those talks. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said Tehran and Washington have reached understandings on a large share of the issues under discussion, but he rejected any suggestion that a signing is close. “It is correct to say that we have reached a conclusion on a large portion of the issues under discussion,” he told a weekly briefing. “But to say that this means the signing of an agreement is imminent—no one can make such a claim.” He accused Washington of shifting its positions.
According to a source familiar with the administration’s terms, a final deal would require Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for the United States lifting its blockade of the waterway. If Iran agrees to reduce its nuclear enrichment, Washington would also be prepared to ease sanctions. The source said most participants agree on the basic outline, and that the Trump administration is encouraged by the direction of the talks even as the remaining language is still being settled. The official added that Iran appears more willing to deal now than it was before the military operation.
