President Donald Trump said Monday that talks with Iran were making progress toward averting renewed hostilities, as Tehran described intensive negotiations and proposed reopening the Strait of Hormuz under specific conditions.
These diplomatic overtures arrived ahead of Tuesday’s U.S. midterm elections, where the Republican Party seeks to maintain congressional control amid voter concern over the conflict and rising fuel prices.
Trump posted on Truth Social that “a deal with Tehran could happen.”
“Iran wants a settlement, as soon as possible.”
Yet within hours, diplomatic momentum was undermined by a report that the United States had carried out a limited strike against Iran, according to the Wall Street Journal, marking the latest in a series of covert attacks in recent weeks.
Iranian state media reported five consecutive explosions on Qeshm Island within the Strait of Hormuz.
The U.S. Central Command did not immediately respond to an AFP request for comment.
Oil prices fell more than seven percent earlier Monday on optimism that the eight‑month conflict might end.
The Wall Street Journal report emerged just as polls opened for the midterm elections, with Democrats anticipating at least partial control of Congress, which would likely constrain Trump’s agenda for the first time in two years.
– Reopen the strait –
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Monday that indirect talks with Washington were underway through intermediary nations.
He described the consultations as “very intensive,” noting the sensitivity and gravity of the situation, in remarks to state media.
“Qatar and Pakistan are playing a very active mediating role in these negotiations.”
Vice President JD Vance expressed optimism that both he and President Trump were making progress toward an accord.
“We’ve certainly made some progress. We’ll see if we can make some more,” Vance told reporters on Monday.
China called for a return to diplomatic channels, while Iran’s security chief conferred with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the conflict.
Axios reported earlier that Vance had sent a letter to Iranian national security chief Mohsen Rezaei proposing fresh talks, the highest‑level outreach in months.
Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref said the messages received from Washington were “an acknowledgement of our victory.”
A senior Iranian official indicated Tehran could reopen the Strait of Hormuz within two days, provided Washington accepted Iran’s demands.
In September, Iran put forward a seven‑day plan for reopening the strait, listing demands such as ending hostilities on all fronts, unfreezing assets, lifting oil sanctions, and halting its counter‑blockade of Iranian ports.
“The possibility of implementing this plan in two days is another indication of Iran’s good‑faith approach,” Tehran’s foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei told reporters at a briefing.
Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Omani Sultan Haitham bin Tariq in Beijing on Monday, marking the Gulf leader’s first visit to China since diplomatic relations were established.
“The two sides called for resolving disputes through political and diplomatic means, urging the United States and Iran to pursue a peaceful path, achieve a ceasefire (and) prevent war entirely,” an Omani statement said.
– ‘No compromises’ –
China convened meetings with Iranian and Saudi officials in Beijing on Monday.
Beijing supports Tehran in “safeguarding its own sovereignty and security,” Foreign Minister Wang Yi told Ali Bagheri, deputy secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, according to a Chinese statement.
Bagheri told Wang that “Tehran’s stance on defending its national security, sovereignty, and territorial integrity remains unchanged, and that Iran will make no compromises in this regard,” state TV reported.
In a Sunday interview with Al Jazeera, Araghchi said Washington must accept a new route that Iran and Oman have agreed upon for strait transit.
He also called for the removal of recent sanctions and a reduction of U.S. troop presence in the region.
Trump has kept up his threats against Tehran, saying on Sunday that the United States may have to give Iran “the hammer” at some unspecified time.
On Saturday, Trump indicated he still needed to “take care” of one or two targets, including Pickaxe Mountain in central Iran, a site suspected of nuclear activity that Tehran denies.
Baqaei warned that any act of aggression against Iran “will be met with a powerful, immediate and comprehensive response.”