US-Israel-Iran War Latest News: The war in the Middle East between the US and Iran remains caught between military pressure and diplomacy, with neither side ready to commit to full direct negotiations. Washington says economic pressure is weakening Tehran’s position, while Iran continues to demand major US concessions before it agrees to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
US President Donald Trump has described the current situation as ‘semi-negotiating,’ while US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz has said that sanctions and financial pressure are hurting Iran’s economy. At the same time, Tehran says its discussions with Oman over new shipping routes through Hormuz are nearing a conclusion.
US-Israel-Iran War Latest News: Trump Says US Is ‘Semi-Negotiating’ With Tehran
Trump has characterised Washington’s current contact with Tehran as “semi-negotiating”, suggesting that communication continues without the two sides entering a full diplomatic process.
The US president has also defended the economic pressure being placed on Iran and said the naval blockade has left Tehran in a difficult position. Washington’s strategy appears to combine military pressure, sanctions and diplomatic messaging in an attempt to force Iran to make concessions.
The approach has so far failed to produce a comprehensive US-Iran agreement, with Tehran continuing to reject direct negotiations under the current conditions.
US-Iran War Latest News: Waltz Says Economic Pressure Is Hurting Iran
Mike Waltz has argued that US economic measures are putting growing pressure on Tehran. He credited Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s economic campaign with damaging Iran’s financial position and claimed Iranian representatives are primarily seeking access to money and frozen assets during discussions.
“When Iran is coming to the table with our negotiators, they are talking about cash, cash, cash. Because they’ll absorb the bombings,” Waltz said in an interview with Fox News.
“I say this jokingly but seriously as well – the Iranians are more afraid of Secretary Bessent than they are of Secretary Hegseth right now.” He also claimed Iranian leaders “don’t care about” their military or the Iranian people
“They are constantly asking for access to cash, access to their assets that we have frozen … that’s the squeeze. That, coupled with the blockade, that’s what’s going to eventually get the Iranians to move.”
US-Iran War Latest News: Iran and Oman Near Strait of Hormuz Shipping Deal
While direct US-Iran talks remain stalled, Tehran and Muscat have continued negotiations over shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the discussions with Oman have reached their final stages. Tehran is working with Oman on new maritime routes that would replace existing routes through the waterway.
“Our negotiations with Oman are regarding the determination of a new maritime route in the Strait of Hormuz. These negotiations have progressed well; I can say we are in the final stages, and the old existing routes will be replaced with new ones. Specialists are currently working on the maps,” he said.
The proposed arrangement could provide a temporary mechanism for commercial vessels to navigate the waterway even while the larger US-Iran dispute remains unresolved.
US-Iran War Latest News: Iran Sets Conditions for Hormuz Reopening
Iran has made clear that a new shipping route does not automatically mean a full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran’s National Security Council has listed six conditions for reopening the waterway. They include:
- An end to US threats against Iran.
- A halt to US military operations against Iran and its regional allies.
- Withdrawal of US naval and air forces involved in the blockade.
- Compensation for damage caused during the conflict.
- Lifting US sanctions.
- Unfreezing Iranian assets.
These demands go beyond maritime arrangements and directly connect the future of Hormuz to the wider US-Iran confrontation. Recent reporting confirms that Tehran wants Washington to make concessions before it agrees to a broader reopening.
US-Iran War Latest News: Why Iran Is Separating the Hormuz Deal From US Talks?
Iran’s position creates an unusual diplomatic situation. Tehran is negotiating with Oman on a technical arrangement for shipping while simultaneously saying that it is not conducting direct negotiations with Washington.
That means the Hormuz discussions can potentially make progress even while the larger US-Iran diplomatic channel remains frozen. Araghchi has also said that messages can move between Tehran and Washington through intermediaries, but that this does not amount to direct negotiations.
The approach allows Iran to discuss an immediate maritime problem without formally returning to talks with the US.
US-Iran War Latest News: What Is Delaying the Iran-Oman Hormuz Deal?
The negotiations have reportedly faced disagreements over the conditions surrounding any new shipping arrangement. Trita Parsi of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft said the US was effectively involved in the process because Oman was negotiating with other Gulf states as well as Washington.
He said the US was “de facto at the table” because “the Omanis are negotiating not just on behalf of themselves, but on behalf of other GCC states”. Parsi said Washington had introduced additional demands during the final stage of the discussions.
“The US to either move the goalposts or add new demands, and the Iranian reaction to that was exactly what we saw – putting forward these very hawkish demands for what needs to be done and for there to be a resumption of US-Iran talks.”
However, he does not believe the disagreement necessarily means the negotiations will collapse. “These are some of the theatrics that happen at specific stages of the negotiation, and may not necessarily be as big of an impediment to a deal as first meets the eye.”
US-Iran War Latest News: Strait of Hormuz Remains Key Pressure Point
The Strait of Hormuz remains at the centre of the confrontation because of its importance to global energy shipments. Any agreement that allows commercial vessels to move more freely through the waterway could reduce pressure on international shipping and energy markets.
However, Iran’s decision to link the waterway’s full reopening to US sanctions, military activity and compensation has turned a maritime issue into a much wider diplomatic dispute.
The latest reporting suggests that Tehran and Oman are close to agreeing on a new route, but a final arrangement still depends on resolving outstanding issues.
US-Iran War Latest News: Can US-Iran Talks Restart?
The immediate prospects for direct US-Iran negotiations remain uncertain. Iran says it is not currently holding direct talks with Washington and wants the US to address its alleged violations of the earlier memorandum before negotiations resume.
Washington, meanwhile, continues to emphasise economic pressure and appears unwilling to abandon its demands. That leaves Oman with an important role as a mediator. If Tehran and Muscat can finalise the Hormuz shipping arrangement, it could create a limited opening for broader diplomacy.
US-Iran War Latest News: What’s Next?
The next major development will likely come from the Iran-Oman negotiations over the new maritime route.
If the two sides finalise the arrangement, shipping through the Strait of Hormuz could receive a clearer framework. But the broader US-Iran dispute would remain unresolved.
For now, Washington is relying heavily on economic pressure, while Tehran is using the reopening of Hormuz as leverage for sanctions relief, compensation and changes to US military activity.
The two sides therefore remain in an unusual state of “semi-negotiating” — communicating through intermediaries and regional partners while still refusing to return to full direct talks.
