The Trump administration is negotiating with Iran over a potential nuclear agreement that would require Tehran to halt uranium enrichment and reopen the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for sanctions relief.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said negotiations underway in Qatar could take several days to finalize specific language in an initial agreement. “There were some talks going on in Qatar today, so we’ll see if we can make progress,” Rubio said during a trip to India.
U.S. Central Command conducted “self-defense strikes” against Iranian targets in southern Iran on Monday to protect American troops from threats posed by Iranian forces. The strikes targeted missile launch sites and Iranian boats attempting to place mines, according to a Central Command spokesperson.
Some American warplanes and nearly two dozen Navy warships, including two aircraft carriers, enforcing a blockade in the Gulf of Oman and Arabian Sea came under fire from Iranian surface-to-air missiles. The strikes occurred near the Iranian port and navy base at Bandar Abbas.
Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said negotiators have reached conclusions on many issues but cautioned that a final agreement is not imminent. “It is correct to say that we have reached a conclusion on a large portion of the issues under discussion,” Baqaei said.
An administration official said Iran has agreed to eliminate highly enriched uranium as part of any final deal. The official added that Iran appears more receptive to making agreements following the military operation than before.
Under a potential agreement, Iran would reopen the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for the U.S. lifting its blockade of the waterway. The United States would also ease sanctions if Iran agrees to reduce nuclear enrichment activities.
Trump administration officials said the framework would go further than the 2015 nuclear deal negotiated under President Barack Obama, which allowed enrichment up to specified levels. The current focus centers on enforcement mechanisms for any long-term commitment against enrichment.
This story has been updated. CNN’s staff contributed to this report.