US-Iran Talks

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth maintains the ceasefire is intact despite Iran's recent attacks.

Iran’s draft plan, reported by Al Jazeera, includes reopening the Strait of Hormuz, freezing uranium enrichment for up to 15 years and launching a regional security dialogue in exchange for sanctions relief and an end to the blockade.

In an early-morning Truth Social post, the president threatened to drop his conciliatory approach – as intelligence officials weigh how Tehran might respond to a unilateral US victory declaration.

Washington believes that as part of the ongoing talks with Iran, another proposal will soon be placed on the table, one much closer to the US terms. US officials say that within 10 days, Iran will be forced to stop production at some of its oil fields, and within three weeks, nearly all oil production will stop.

Tehran proposed a plan that would include reopening the Strait of Hormuz while postponing questions related to its nuclear program for separate negotiations at a later stage. According to US officials, reopening the strait without resolving the issue of Iranian uranium enrichment and Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium near weapons-grade level is a key bargaining chip that the US will not easily give up.

President Donald Trumpis expected to meet with senior officials amid the deadlock with Tehran to discuss all available options to the US going forward. "If they ⁠want to talk, they ​can come to us, or ​they can call us. You know, there is a telephone. We have ​nice, secure lines," the president said.

Pro-Iranian channel Al-Mayadeen reports Tehran has sent mediators a phased framework contingent on US approval, with the nuclear file reserved for the final stage.

According to Iranian media reports, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi left the talks and headed for meetings in Oman and Russia. Witkoff and Kushner’s departure for Islamabad has also yet to be confirmed. Negotiations between Washington and Tehran are expected to resume, but the gaps appear enormous.

US President Donald Trump's envoys will hold a face-to-face meeting with Abbas Araghchi. White House confirms: "The Iranians reached out and asked for this meeting." Washington says maximum pressure continues and the military option remains on the table

Three diplomatic sources from the region say China is involved behind the scenes in the contacts between Iran and the US, and is trying, among other things, to pressure the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to soften their position. Trump is willing to grant a brief extension of just a few days, sources in Washington say, but recent developments indicate even those few days could drag on.