US President Donald Trump said further strikes against Iran were “highly unlikely” if talks progress toward a strong agreement, as a senior Iranian official, cited by Reuters, said Tehran had submitted a nuclear proposal to Washington through Qatar and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said peace talks had paused since the US midterm elections.
In an interview with CNN on Sunday, Trump said the decision on whether to resume the military campaign “depends on whether or not they sign a very strong agreement” and that a new escalation is “highly unlikely.” He added that the US military was “ready” to strike and could “finish [Iran] off,” saying the US had three aircraft carriers in the region and 38 bridges in its sights “that we can knock down in literally one hour.”
The US launched its attack on Iran in late February, after US ally Israel carried out what it called a “preemptive strike” on its biggest regional rival. The conflict has proven unpopular with the US public and featured heavily in this month’s midterm elections, in which Trump’s Republicans lost their majorities in Congress.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters in Florida that “I wouldn’t say we’re on the verge of a breakthrough” and that Iranian demands were “not just unacceptable but, in some cases, outrageous and ridiculous and really not realistic.” He said Trump “would always prefer to solve every problem diplomatically” but that “sometimes that’s not possible.”
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Sunday that peace talks had been paused since the midterm elections, describing the outcome as a “shock.” “We now have to see how long it will take for them to digest these results, in order to determine how we are going to move forward,” he said. He wrote on X that Tehran’s two-day proposal, to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within two days if the US meets its conditions, “stands: meet the requirements, including end to war on all fronts, and you will see results. Or choose war, and see our alert and battle-hardened Warriors rain down hell.”
Qatar, which acts as one of the mediators in the conflict, denied rumors that the two sides were failing to reach a deal. On Saturday, the Qatari prime minister said both sides were still working toward an agreement. The White House said Trump would meet Qatar’s Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani at the White House on Monday.
Separately, Reuters cited a senior Iranian official as saying that Tehran has submitted a proposal on its nuclear program to Washington through Qatar. The official said further talks would depend on the US meeting Tehran’s demands, including lifting sanctions, unfreezing Iranian funds and war reparations.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei rejected Rubio’s characterisation of Iranian demands, saying that “pursuing the rights and interests of the Iranian nation was not unreasonable.” He said Washington must end sanctions, the naval blockade and the war on all fronts before any negotiations could begin.
Oil prices fell on Monday on renewed hopes for diplomacy, with Brent crude down 0.75% at $97.58 a barrel and US West Texas Intermediate futures trading 0.42% lower at $90.45.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The conflict has kept the Strait of Hormuz partially blocked, disrupting global oil supplies and driving energy prices higher
- Trump's domestic position is weakened after the midterm defeat, potentially making him either more eager for a deal or more willing to act abroad
- Iran's nuclear proposal through Qatar could be a genuine opening or a stalling tactic; the next weeks will test both sides' willingness to compromise
Background
Trump ordered an attack on Iran in late February 2026 after Israel launched what it called a "preemptive strike" on its regional rival. The war has stretched more than eight months, with the US and Iran remaining in a military and diplomatic stalemate. A memorandum of understanding signed in Islamabad in June expired in August. The conflict has been unpopular at home and contributed to the Republican Party's loss of its majorities in Congress in the November 3 midterm elections.
Key Perspectives
President Donald Trump: says new strikes are "highly unlikely" if Iran signs a "very strong agreement," but that the US military is ready and could "finish [Iran] off"; he described Iran as a "failing nation" that is "withering away financially" and said the US had "won" the war.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio: says he does not see a breakthrough; calls Iranian demands "outrageous and ridiculous and really not realistic" and says the diplomatic track "hasn't been very productive."
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi: says the US midterm result has paused mediation; describes it as a "shock"; says the US must choose between accepting Iran's conditions or resuming the war; reiterates Tehran's two-day proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz if the US meets its demands.
Qatar (Prime Minister and mediators): denies that talks have broken down; says both sides are still working toward an agreement; Trump is set to meet Qatar's PM at the White House.
Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei: rejects Rubio's characterisation; says Washington must end sanctions, the naval blockade and the war on all fronts before negotiations can begin.
What to Watch
- Trump's meeting with the Qatari prime minister Monday for any sign of a concrete framework
- Whether Iran's nuclear proposal gains traction in Washington or is rejected as insufficient
- Further attacks on ships near the Strait of Hormuz, which would signal that neither side is ready to de-escalate
Checked
11 claims in this story checked against 3 sources: 10 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedTrump said further strikes against Iran were highly unlikely if a strong agreement were reached.DW English: “President Donald Trump sought to downplay fears that the US was about to relaunch its military campaign against Iran. "It depends on whether or not they sign a very strong agreement," he told CNN on Sunday. "The answer is highly unlikely it's going to be necessary."”
- SupportedA senior Iranian official, cited by Reuters, said Tehran submitted a nuclear proposal to Washington through Qatar.DW English: “Separately, the Reuters news agency cited a senior Iranian official as saying that Tehran has submitted a proposal on its nuclear program to Washington through Qatar.”
- SupportedAraghchi said peace talks had been paused since the US midterm elections.DW English: “On Sunday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said peace talks had been paused since the midterm elections.”
- SupportedTrump told CNN, “It depends on whether or not they sign a very strong agreement.”DW English: “"It depends on whether or not they sign a very strong agreement," he told CNN on Sunday.”
- SupportedTrump said the US military was “ready” to launch another round of strikes.DW English: “At the same time, Trump restated that the US military was "ready" to launch a new round of strikes”
- SupportedTrump said the US could “finish [Iran] off.”DW English: “and could "finish [Iran] off."”
- SupportedTrump said the US had 38 bridges in its sights that it could knock down in an hour.DW English: “He added that the US military had 38 bridges in their sights "that we can knock down in literally one hour."”
- SupportedThe US attack on Iran began in late February after Israel launched what it called a preemptive strike.DW English: “Trump ordered an attack on Iran in late February, after US ally Israel launched what it called a "preemptive strike" on its biggest regional rival.”
- SupportedRubio said Iranian demands were “not just unacceptable” and, in some cases, “outrageous and ridiculous and really not realistic.”Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Iranian demands are “not just unacceptable, but in some cases, outrageous and ridiculous and really not realistic”.”
- SupportedBrent crude was down 0.75% at $97.58 a barrel on Monday.US Top News and Analysis: “Brent crude, the international price benchmark, was down 0.75% at $97.58 per barrel by 5:25 a.m. ET.”
- Partly supportedUS West Texas Intermediate futures were down 0.42% at $90.45.US Top News and Analysis: “U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures for December delivery were trading 0.42% lower at $90.45.”