Iran defended its offer to resume peace talks within 48 hours on Monday, November 9, 2026, as Washington rejected Tehran’s conditions and President Donald Trump said new U.S. strikes were unlikely if negotiations made progress.
The proposal replaced an earlier seven-day timeline with a 48-hour one. It also tied a return to talks to U.S. steps, including ending hostilities, lifting the U.S. naval blockade and easing sanctions. Tehran says those steps should happen before negotiations.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei argued that the demands were reasonable. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called some of them unrealistic. The sides remain far apart on the Strait of Hormuz and Iran’s nuclear program.
Tehran’s plan would restore shipping through the strait in stages. It would hold nuclear discussions afterward, but Washington has not accepted the terms. Qatar, which has helped pass messages between the two countries, remained involved.
Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani was due to meet Trump in Washington. Trump told CNN that renewed strikes were “highly unlikely” if talks advanced toward a strong agreement. He did not rule out attacks.
He said U.S. forces had identified Iranian infrastructure as possible targets. His comments suggested that the immediate rise in tensions might pause, but they did not show that the sides had agreed to a ceasefire or made a breakthrough in negotiations.