US and Iranian officials remain in indirect negotiations over a possible ceasefire extension and broader framework deal, even as fresh US strikes targeted an area near Bandar Abbas, the southern Iranian port city that hosts a naval base on the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian state media said local officials were investigating reports of explosions, while Washington has not yet detailed the scope or impact of the operation.
The latest strikes come at a sensitive moment for diplomacy. President Donald Trump said over the weekend that both sides were nearing an agreement, though he later cautioned negotiators not to rush into a deal. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also said a deal could potentially be reached soon. But Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqai struck a more guarded tone, saying substantial progress had been made on many issues while stressing that signing an agreement was not imminent.
According to reports, the memorandum of understanding under discussion would extend the current 60-day ceasefire, reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and establish a path for further talks on Iran’s nuclear program. Those discussions remain incomplete, with several major issues still unresolved, including sanctions relief, the release of frozen Iranian assets, and US demands that Iran curb its nuclear ambitions.
CBS News, citing US intelligence, reported that Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is believed to be in an undisclosed location after being injured in an Israeli strike early in the war. That situation, according to the report, has made communication with Iranian envoys difficult and slowed the pace of negotiations.
The status of Iran’s nuclear material remains a central concern. At the start of the war, Iran was believed to possess about 440 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60 percent purity, a level close to weapons-grade. On Monday night, Trump said that uranium would either be handed over to the United States immediately or, preferably, destroyed in place in coordination with Iran.
Despite public caution from senior officials, Iranian representatives continued diplomatic engagement. Reuters reported that Iran’s top negotiator and foreign minister were in Doha for talks with Qatar’s prime minister over a possible deal with the United States.
The conflict has already had major regional and global consequences. US and Israeli strikes on Iran on 28 February triggered broader fighting across the Middle East. Iran responded by attacking Israel and US-aligned Gulf states and effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route for global energy supplies. The disruption pushed oil prices sharply higher worldwide.
Both sides have observed a ceasefire since 8 April, but the latest strikes and unresolved diplomatic disputes underscore how fragile the situation remains. With military pressure continuing and negotiations still underway, the prospects for a durable agreement are uncertain.
