President Donald Trump announced "major combat operations" against Iran on Feb. 28, with massive joint U.S.-Israeli strikes targeting military, government and infrastructure sites.
Delegations from the U.S. and Iran entered negotiations in June aimed at a war-ending deal based on a memorandum of understanding signed by both countries.
The U.S. and Iran have nonetheless continued to exchange strikes, with the strategic Strait of Hormuz as the primary flashpoint.
President Donald Trump said he was in “no rush” to negotiate the end of the Iran war, even as the conflict nears its six-month mark.
“I have no time schedule, none,” Trump reportedly told Al Jazeera in a brief interview on Wednesday.
When asked by the reporter whether economic sanctions or military strikes are more effective in his campaign against Iran, Trump said they are "both effective."
The U.S. announced that they are upping economic pressure on Iran and possibly Iran's trading partners.
Aug 26, 2026, 2:44 AM EDT
Iran, Oman ministers hold 'constructive' Strait of Hormuz talks
The foreign ministers of both Iran and Oman on Tuesday commented on continuing bilateral talks regarding the future management of the Strait of Hormuz.
Oman's Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi said in a post to X that he and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held a "constructive dialogue in Tehran."
"I am hopeful we will soon announce a temporary corridor for the Strait of Hormuz and practical arrangements to restore safe navigation," Busaidi wrote. "Future management of the Strait and a permanent solution will follow in due course, as per article 5 of the Islamabad Memorandum."
"Discussions with regional partners will be conducted in support of peace and cooperation, stability and freedom of navigation," Busaidi added.
A handout picture provided by the Iranian Foreign Ministry shows Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi (C-L) and Oman's Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr al-Busaidi (C-R) walking up stairs for a meeting in Tehran on Aug. 25, 2026.
-/IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY OFFICE/
Araghchi, meanwhile, said in a post to X that Tehran's "commitment to peace and stability is matched by steadfast diplomacy with our neighbors. In talks with Pakistani and Omani guests, regional solutions were stressed."
"Proposed framework for new corridor, joint mine-clearing, and future management of Hormuz is case in point," he added.
-ABC News' Will Gretsky
Aug 25, 2026, 11:39 AM EDT
Trump says all mines have been cleared from Strait of Hormuz
President Donald Trump said the U.S. Navy informed him that all mines "have been removed and/or detonated" from the Strait of Hormuz.
"Iran has been notified that any ship or boat placing new mines will be immediately and systematically destroyed. Through Space Force, we are watching every square inch of the Strait, as we are, also, with Pickaxe Mountain and the already destroyed three other Nuclear sites. There is a Zero Tolerance policy on mine placement in full force and effect," Trump said in a post on social media Tuesday.
Aug 25, 2026, 9:15 AM EDT
State Department preparing to return personnel to Middle East, officials say
The State Department is preparing to send more diplomats and other personnel that were evacuated from the Middle East in the early days of the war with Iran back to their posts as soon as this week, two officials familiar with the matter told ABC News.
Missions across the region have now been on ordered or authorized departure for nearly six months -- evacuation statuses that are not supposed to extend beyond 180 days, per State Department rules.
Still, the officials said that staffing levels at most impacted posts are not expected to return to pre-conflict levels in the near term, and many diplomats will be heading back to their assigned countries without their families due to elevated risks.
Around the time the Memorandum of Understanding with Iran was signed in June, the State Department quietly shifted some personnel evacuated earlier this year back to posts in the Middle East and was preparing to lift departure orders, but those plans were halted amid renewed escalation in July.
