President Trump convened an emergency Cabinet meeting at the White House on Wednesday after shifting the session from its original planned location at Camp David in Maryland because of weather conditions. The gathering focused on ongoing efforts to secure a peace agreement with Iran amid a fragile ceasefire that has held since early April.
Trump opened the meeting by stating that Tehran remains “very much intent” on reaching a deal and voiced optimism that an agreement could be finalized soon. “So far they haven’t gotten there, we’re not satisfied with it, but we will be,” he said, adding that Iran is “negotiating on fumes” due to the loss of its navy and air force along with an economy in freefall. “Either [Iran makes a deal], or we’ll just have to finish the job” militarily, he concluded.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio provided an update during the session, noting some forward movement in talks but cautioning that details remain under discussion. “There’s a lot of talking back and forth going on about specific language in the initial document,” Rubio told reporters, emphasizing that Trump is committed to “either going to make a good deal or no deal” at all. He added that progress could become clearer over the coming hours and days.
The shift in venue came as negotiators had met earlier in the week in Qatar to review the latest U.S. proposal. Those discussions were disrupted when U.S. forces struck Iranian missile launch sites and mine-laying boats, prompting Tehran to threaten a “decisive reciprocal response” and accuse Washington of a “grave violation” of the ceasefire. U.S. officials maintained the strikes were carried out in self-defense.
Trump had indicated on Saturday that an agreement was “largely negotiated” and would “be announced shortly,” yet by Tuesday Rubio described the timeline as still “a few days” away. Iranian state media reported details of an “initial, unofficial document” outlining a potential 14-point framework, but the White House quickly labeled the report a “complete fabrication” and warned against believing Iranian state media accounts.
The proposed deal centers on easing the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports in exchange for Iran reopening the Strait of Hormuz and clearing mines from the waterway. The strait has been effectively closed by Iran for months, contributing to a rise in average U.S. gas prices from about $2.90 in late February to roughly $4.50 at present. If implemented, the current ceasefire would extend for an additional 60 days to allow further negotiations on sanctions relief and Iran’s nuclear activities.
From the U.S. perspective, key elements include Iran suspending its uranium enrichment program and relinquishing its stockpile of highly enriched nuclear fuel. Iranian officials, according to a senior U.S. source, have shown interest in the broad outline, though Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei’s full endorsement remains an open question. Major sticking points involve the quantity of enriched uranium Iran would dispose of and the duration of any halt to its enrichment activities.
The ceasefire began on April 8, shortly before a U.S. deadline for potential strikes on Iranian infrastructure. Iran did not reopen the strait as expected, leading Trump to impose the naval blockade. The initial two-week period was later extended until discussions conclude. In May, Trump launched “Project Freedom” to escort vessels through the strait, but only two ships passed before the effort was abandoned the next day.
Throughout the period, Trump has alternated between calls for negotiation, threats of renewed bombing, and blockade measures, sometimes within the same day. The New York Times reported that he has suggested on multiple occasions that the conflict is already over, while columnist Bret Stephens noted at least seven instances of threatened high-intensity fighting that were ultimately not pursued.
Iranian officials have shown little movement at the negotiating table despite the back-and-forth. Even if a provisional agreement is reached this week, deeper issues over Tehran’s nuclear program would still need resolution during the proposed 60-day extension period. A senior U.S. official told reporters Sunday that while the broad template appears endorsed at the highest levels in Iran, whether it becomes a final accord is uncertain.
White House statements have stressed that any deal must meet strict conditions, with Rubio reiterating that incomplete terms would not be accepted. Iranian state media continues to circulate its own accounts of the talks, which U.S. officials have dismissed as unreliable.
Observers note that the coming days will be critical as both sides exchange language on the initial document. Rubio indicated during the Cabinet session that interest remains on both sides, though concrete outcomes depend on further progress in the hours ahead.