Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Thursday that the Trump administration remains focused on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global energy shipping route that has been disrupted during the ongoing crisis. Speaking during a visit to India, Rubio said the waterway “has to be open” and described its closure as “unlawful, illegal, unsustainable for the world, and unacceptable.”
Rubio confirmed that U.S. and Iranian representatives are engaged in discussions in Qatar, where negotiators are working through the language of a preliminary agreement. He said President Donald Trump’s position has not changed: Washington wants “a good deal or no deal,” though he acknowledged that finalizing the document could take more time.
Military Strikes During Diplomacy
Even as diplomatic talks moved forward, U.S. Central Command announced that American forces had carried out what it called “self-defense strikes” in southern Iran. Capt. Tim Hawkins said the operation targeted missile facilities and Iranian vessels allegedly involved in efforts to lay naval mines near key maritime routes.
U.S. military officials said the strikes were meant to protect American personnel and assets while preserving the broader cease-fire framework. A senior defense official said U.S. aircraft and naval forces operating near the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea had come under threat from Iranian surface-to-air missile systems, and that the strikes took place near the Iranian naval hub of Bandar Abbas.
Tehran Signals Progress With Caution
Despite the escalation on the ground and at sea, negotiations in Qatar continued. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said Tehran and Washington had reached understandings on several issues but cautioned that a final agreement had not yet been reached. He also accused the United States of shifting its positions during the talks.
Trump said any future agreement with Iran would be “good and proper,” while continuing to criticize the 2015 nuclear deal negotiated during the Obama administration. He argued that the earlier accord gave Iran economic relief without offering a permanent guarantee that Tehran would not pursue nuclear weapons capability.
What a Proposed Framework Would Require
According to a senior U.S. administration official, negotiators have made progress on a proposed framework that would require Iran to eliminate its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and accept significant limits on future uranium enrichment.
In return, the United States would reportedly lift its naval blockade and begin a phased reduction of economic sanctions.
Officials said the major political questions have largely been resolved in principle, but technical details, verification procedures, and enforcement measures are still being negotiated. Washington’s priority is a long-term, verifiable agreement that keeps Iran within agreed nuclear limits, with strong enforcement mechanisms considered central to any deal.
The administration believes recent military pressure has made Iran more willing to negotiate. If completed, the agreement would reportedly impose stricter limits on Iran’s nuclear program than the 2015 accord, reflecting the administration’s push for a broader and more enforceable settlement.
