A 60-day deadline for a broad agreement between the United States and Iran expired this week with no negotiations taking place and none on the calendar. President Trump said there were no talks between the two governments and that none were scheduled. The deadline lapsed roughly six months into open conflict between the two countries.

Bloomberg reported that Trump appeared in no hurry to secure an agreement, and administration officials described differing views about whether talks might resume.

Oman, which has long served as a channel between Washington and Tehran, drew new attention. Trump said he would order the bombing of Oman if it "gets in the way" over the Iran issue, a statement reported across multiple outlets. In response, congressional Democrats said they planned to introduce a war powers measure aimed at limiting any strike on Oman without congressional authorization.

On social media, Trump posted a map that labeled the Strait of Hormuz as "new US territory." The strait is a narrow passage through which a large share of the world's seaborne oil moves, and it has been a recurring point of friction between American and Iranian naval forces. The post came before his statement that no talks with Iran were planned.

Accounts of the state of contact between the two sides differed. Fox News reported that Trump confirmed a backchannel involving Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps while calling for Iran's "white flag of surrender." Reuters and the Washington Examiner reported his statement that no formal talks were occurring.

There were also differing statements within the administration about objectives. MSNBC reported that Trump contradicted Vice President JD Vance over what each described as the "number one goal" of the campaign. Separately, Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene said Trump was "discussing" a nuclear option regarding Iran, a characterization the White House did not confirm.

Descriptions of the war's effect on Iran's regional network varied. The Los Angeles Times reported that Iran's allied forces, sometimes called the "Axis of Resistance," had been damaged but remained intact, contrary to earlier expectations that the conflict would break them. Axios reported that the fighting had exposed the limits of military pressure and strained relations with US allies.

References

1. 1.Bloomberg — Trump appeared in no hurry to secure an agreement; officials described differing views on resuming talks
2. 2.Multiple outlets — Trump's statement that he would bomb Oman if it 'gets in the way'
3. 3.Congressional Democrats — planned war powers measure on any strike on Oman
4. 4.Fox News — Trump confirmed IRGC backchannel while calling for Iran's 'white flag of surrender'
5. 5.Reuters and Washington Examiner — Trump's statement that no formal talks were occurring
6. 6.MSNBC — Trump contradicted VP JD Vance on the campaign's 'number one goal'
7. 7.Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene — said Trump was 'discussing' a nuclear option; White House did not confirm
8. 8.Los Angeles Times — Iran's 'Axis of Resistance' damaged but intact
9. 9.Axios — fighting exposed limits of military pressure and strained US alliances