Trump Administration, Iran Reportedly Near Framework for Broader War-Ending Agreement
President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and other senior administration officials are reportedly finalizing details of a potential agreement aimed at ending the conflict with Iran.
Speaking during a visit to India, Rubio emphasized that the Strait of Hormuz must remain open to international shipping.
“The straits have to be open, they’re going to be open,” Rubio said. “What’s happening there is unlawful, it’s illegal, it’s unsustainable for the world, it’s unacceptable.”
Rubio also confirmed that discussions were taking place in Qatar and suggested negotiations were focused on the precise wording of an initial framework.
“There’s a lot of talking back and forth about specific language in the initial document,” he said. “The president has made clear he wants a deal, but it has to be a good deal.”
Meanwhile, U.S. Central Command said American forces carried out what it described as “self-defense strikes” in southern Iran on Monday. According to officials, the operation targeted missile launch sites and Iranian vessels allegedly attempting to deploy naval mines.
Captain Tim Hawkins, a CENTCOM spokesperson, said the actions were taken to protect U.S. personnel while maintaining restraint during the ongoing cease-fire.
A senior U.S. military official said some American aircraft and naval vessels operating near the Gulf of Oman and Arabian Sea had faced threats from Iranian surface-to-air missile systems. The strikes reportedly occurred near Bandar Abbas, a key Iranian naval base and port.
The military activity came as Iranian officials were meeting in Qatar for talks aimed at reaching a broader settlement.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei acknowledged that significant progress had been made in negotiations but cautioned against expecting an immediate agreement.
“We have reached conclusions on a large portion of the issues under discussion,” Baqaei said. “But no one can claim that a final agreement is imminent.”
According to a senior administration official, Tehran has shown greater willingness to negotiate following recent military operations. The official said discussions include Iran relinquishing highly enriched uranium, reopening the Strait of Hormuz, and accepting long-term restrictions on uranium enrichment in exchange for sanctions relief and the lifting of U.S. maritime restrictions.
The administration is reportedly seeking a binding and enforceable commitment preventing Iran from enriching uranium, with officials emphasizing that verification and enforcement mechanisms are more important than the exact duration of the agreement.
Officials familiar with the talks said the proposed arrangement would go beyond the 2015 nuclear agreement negotiated during the Obama administration, which allowed limited uranium enrichment under international monitoring.
While negotiators appear to have reached broad agreement on key principles, work continues on the final details of any potential accord.
