Iran nuclear talks continue as Donald Trump says negotiations are progressing while the United States signals movement toward reopening the Strait of Hormuz
The United States and Iran are engaged in diplomatic discussions over Tehran's nuclear programme and maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz. US President Donald Trump said negotiations were progressing, while reports indicated that Washington, Tehran and Oman were working toward an interim arrangement to restore commercial shipping through the strategic waterway.
Los Angeles: US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said negotiations with Iran were progressing as Washington continued diplomatic engagement with Tehran over its nuclear programme and the future of commercial navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
Speaking to reporters after arriving at Los Angeles International Airport while travelling to Las Vegas, Trump said discussions with Iran had advanced and indicated that negotiations were moving forward.
"The negotiations were good. It's moving along very nicely," Trump told reporters at Los Angeles International Airport.
The remarks came as the United States continued diplomatic efforts with Iran while maintaining that Tehran must not acquire a nuclear weapon.
Iran Nuclear Talks Remain Central to US Diplomacy
Trump reiterated that Iran would not be permitted to possess a nuclear weapon and said any future agreement would include formal assurances on the issue.
During an interview with Fox News, the US President also referred to the Strait of Hormuz, stating that the strategic shipping route would reopen soon as negotiations continued.
"The Strait is going to be open very soon," Trump said, while warning that military action remained an option if diplomatic efforts failed.
According to Trump, the United States had previously prepared a large-scale military operation before deciding to continue diplomatic engagement with Tehran.
He added that discussions between both sides remained active despite repeated statements from Iranian officials denying direct negotiations with Washington.
"They want to make a deal. We'll see what happens. If they don't make a deal, it's going to be too bad," Trump said.
Strait of Hormuz Agreement Reportedly Under Discussion
A report by Axios stated that the United States, Iran and Oman were approaching an interim agreement aimed at restoring commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
According to the report, Washington was seeking to announce the arrangement as early as Wednesday.
The proposed 60-day framework would reportedly allow inbound commercial vessels to travel through Iranian waters, while outbound traffic would move through Omani waters in coordination with Iran. The arrangement would also suspend transit tolls and shipping fees during the interim period.
The report stated that the proposal is intended to reinforce the existing ceasefire between Washington and Tehran while creating additional time for renewed negotiations over Iran's nuclear programme.
Axios further reported that mediation efforts involving Oman, Qatar, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia contributed to the proposed framework.
According to the report, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi agreed in principle to the framework during the weekend, while Iran's leadership completed its internal approval process on Tuesday.
Think Tank Assesses Iran's Negotiating Strategy
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said Iran appeared to be presenting discussions on future shipping arrangements as negotiations with Oman rather than as part of a broader agreement with the United States.
The think tank, citing media reports and regional mediators, said Iranian negotiators sought to retain maritime monitoring and intervention authority while pursuing service fees, sanctions relief and measures linked to the earlier blockade.
The assessment also noted that US officials, including President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, continued to maintain that the Strait of Hormuz must remain open for international shipping and should not come under Iranian control.
US Maintains Diplomatic and Security Position
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world's most significant maritime trade routes, carrying a substantial share of global oil exports.
The latest developments indicate that Washington continues to pursue diplomatic engagement while maintaining military preparedness if negotiations fail. At the same time, discussions involving regional mediators suggest that efforts remain focused on restoring commercial shipping and continuing dialogue over Iran's nuclear programme.
