Iranian officials are in Qatar for talks amid efforts between the U.S. and Iran to bring about an end to the nearly three-month-long war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, with a risk that hostilities could resume if neither side agrees to the latest emerging proposal.

President Trump on Monday posted to Truth Social that the negotiations are proceeding nicely, adding that it will only be a great deal for all or no deal at all. The president said Saturday night that the potential deal was largely negotiated. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has also indicated that a final agreement, though not settled, could be imminent.

Trump's remarks came hours before the U.S. conducted strikes in southern Iran. Explosions were reported along the coastal areas of the Strait of Hormuz and Iran's Bandar Abbas city, according to Reuters. The strikes occurred as negotiations continued in Qatar.

Iran's parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf is leading the Iranian delegation at the talks. He previously met with Vice President Vance in April during preliminary discussions that paved the way for current negotiations.

What the Right Is Saying

Republican lawmakers and conservative foreign policy voices have largely criticized the emerging framework, arguing it does not go far enough to dismantle Iran's nuclear program. Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who served in the Trump administration, slammed reports of the potential deal, emphasizing that Iran must be fully de-nuclearized.

Conservative critics contend that the emerging proposal lacks specific details on how Iran would permanently terminate its enrichment capabilities. They argue that allowing future talks to address nuclear details creates unacceptable risk that Tehran could use negotiations as a stalling tactic while continuing to advance toward weapons capability.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu backed the general concept of a U.S.-Iranian understanding but emphasized the importance of dismantling Iran's nuclear enrichment sites and removing enriched nuclear material from Iranian territory. Israeli officials have warned that their country reserves the right to take independent military action if diplomacy fails to achieve complete denuclearization.

Some Republican senators have called for mandatory Congressional approval of any sanctions waivers, arguing that executive branch authority on this scale requires legislative authorization. They point to constitutional concerns about unilateral presidential action on international agreements.

What the Left Is Saying

Democratic lawmakers and progressive foreign policy analysts have expressed cautious support for diplomatic engagement, though many emphasize the need for verifiable enforcement mechanisms regarding Iran's nuclear program.

Progressive Democrats argue that a negotiated settlement could prevent a broader regional conflict while achieving core U.S. objectives. They note that military strikes alone have not dismantled Iran's nuclear infrastructure and suggest that diplomacy offers a more sustainable path forward.

Some Democratic members of Congress have called for congressional oversight of any final agreement, arguing that a of understanding should be reviewed before the executive branch commits to long-term sanctions relief. They point to lessons from the 2015 JCPOA negotiations as a framework for ensuring Congressional buy-in on major international agreements.

Humanitarian organizations aligned with progressive causes have highlighted the impact of sanctions on ordinary Iranian civilians and have urged that any deal include provisions addressing humanitarian exceptions in sanctions regimes.

What the Numbers Show

The conflict has lasted approximately 12 weeks, significantly disrupting global energy markets. Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz caused oil prices to spike globally, as approximately 20% of the world's oil supply passes through the strategic waterway.

U.S. gasoline prices stand at $4.50 per gallon nationally according to AAA, down slightly from recent highs but still 50% higher than the $3 average in February before hostilities began. Energy analysts attribute much of the increase to market uncertainty over potential disruption to Persian Gulf shipping lanes.

Under the emerging framework, Iran would be required to give up its stockpile of enriched uranium, with details of removal to be finalized during a proposed 60-day extension of the current ceasefire arrangement. The Trump administration has stated that enriched uranium will either be turned over to the United States for destruction or destroyed in place under International Atomic Energy Agency oversight.

If an agreement is reached, the U.S. would issue sanctions waivers allowing Iran to resume legal oil sales and would unfreeze billions of dollars in Iranian assets currently held under U.S. jurisdiction. The value of frozen assets has been estimated at tens of billions of dollars by Treasury Department sources.

The Bottom Line

The talks in Qatar represent the most significant diplomatic engagement between the United States and Iran since the collapse of the 2015 nuclear agreement during Trump's first term. Both sides have incentives to reach a settlement: the U.S. seeks to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons while avoiding a prolonged military conflict, and Iran faces mounting economic pressure alongside battlefield losses.

The emerging framework remains preliminary, with key details on verification and enforcement still unresolved. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said Monday that negotiations are focused on ending the war but acknowledged that nuclear specifics have not yet been discussed in detail.

What happens next depends on whether both parties can agree to the current terms within days or weeks. Trump has warned that failure to reach an agreement would mean a return to full hostilities, which he described as bigger and stronger than before. Israeli military operations in Lebanon add another layer of complexity, as Netanyahu insisted Monday that IDF attacks would continue despite ceasefire conditions tied to any U.S.-Iranian truce.

International observers, including European allies who have pushed for renewed nuclear diplomacy, will be watching closely. The outcome could reshape regional security architecture throughout the Middle East and determine whether a new framework for constraining Iran's nuclear program can be established.