WASHINGTON (Diya TV) — President Donald Trump says he sees “positive momentum” toward ending the Iran war and will hold off on new U.S. strikes for now. Iran, however, says Washington has not answered its demands and denies that negotiations are underway.
Qatar is trying to bridge the gap. Its foreign ministry said Tuesday that mediation had gained momentum after Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani met Trump at the White House. Qatar described the meeting as positive but said it could not predict how close the sides were to an agreement.
The sides remain divided over what must happen before talks begin. Iran’s security chief, Mohsen Rezaei, said Tehran was waiting for a “clear and explicit” U.S. response to seven conditions. He rejected reports that the two governments had resumed negotiations. Iran has not published the full list, but officials have identified lifting U.S. sanctions and the naval blockade, ending fighting across regional fronts and addressing the Strait of Hormuz.
Tehran’s proposal sets out a short sequence: Washington would take steps first, and Iran would reopen the Strait of Hormuz within two days. Nuclear negotiations would follow. The Trump administration has not accepted that order. Washington wants Iran’s nuclear program included in a settlement, while Tehran says it will not reopen the strait until the United States meets its conditions.
Trump’s decision to pause new attacks followed appeals from regional governments, including Qatar. After meeting the Qatari prime minister, Trump said the war was “effectively over” militarily and that he saw a “good chance” of ending it. He also said U.S. forces remained ready to strike if needed.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio offered a more specific account of Washington’s current approach after meeting G7 foreign ministers in Paris. He said U.S. sanctions and the naval blockade were placing enough economic pressure on Iran that major combat operations were unnecessary “for the time being.” Rubio warned that the U.S. military stood ready if Iran crossed what he called U.S. “red lines.”
Washington has also widened its effort to restrict Iran’s access to supplies and revenue. U.S. Central Command announced Task Force Iron Gate, a roughly 20-person team based in Tampa, Florida. It will coordinate with other agencies to disrupt the movement of weapons, sanctioned materials and illicit revenue through Iran’s land borders and the Caspian Sea.
The waterway at the center of the dispute remains dangerous. A tanker reported that an unknown projectile struck it near Oman as it traveled through the Strait of Hormuz, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency. The crew remained safe, and the agency reported no environmental impact. It did not identify who fired the projectile.
The unresolved standoff has consequences beyond the two governments. Qatar’s foreign ministry warned that the strait’s continued closure adds to energy costs and urged the parties to restore freedom of navigation. The waterway carries major energy shipments from the Gulf, making its disruption a concern for importers and shipping companies worldwide.
For now, the blockade remains in place, Iran says the strait will stay closed until Washington acts, and the United States has paused—but not ruled out—new strikes. Qatar says it is working to narrow the differences. Neither side has announced a date for talks or agreed publicly on the first steps toward a deal.
