Trump, Iran Talks Continue Amid Escalating Tensions

Vance, joined by Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, faces Iranian threats of non-attendance due to "excessive demands," as the two-week cease-fire expires Tuesday night. President Trump warned on social media of airstrikes if no deal is reached and announced the U.S. Navy used force to seize an Iranian-flagged ship in the Gulf of Oman, blowing a hole in its engine room after the crew refused to comply with a blockade.

Iran's state news agency criticized U.S. "unreasonable requests" and "contradictory statements." The immediate goal is a memorandum of understanding. The U.S. demands Iran reopen the Strait of Hormuz, freeze uranium enrichment for 20 years, and remove stockpiles, while Iran seeks continued control of the Strait, full sanctions lifting, and a shorter enrichment suspension.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps seeks greater leverage, aggressively restricting shipping in the Strait. A key unresolved issue is Iran's future uranium enrichment, with the U.S. now open to a 20-year suspension, down from a permanent end.

Conflicting statements from Trump and Iranian officials, including public fissures between Iran's civilian leadership and military hard-liners, create confusion. The U.S. imposed a blockade on Iranian ports and is clearing mines in the Strait of Hormuz.