Tehran Sets Hardline Conditions for Talks as Trump Warns Patience is Fading

Diplomatic tensions between Washington and Tehran have intensified as Iran set five steep conditions for entering new negotiations. Iranian Senior Vice President Mohammadreza Aref asserted that Tehran would not relinquish sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz "at any price" and demanded U.S. reparations for war damages. President Donald Trump dismissed these proposals as "garbage," though he indicated he remains open to a deal while warning that his patience is nearly exhausted. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reinforced this stance, stating the U.S. will not allow Iran to use economic vulnerabilities as leverage. On the military front, Admiral Brad Cooper of U.S. Central Command testified to Congress that U.S. strikes have significantly degraded Iran's conventional military capabilities. However, he noted that Iran still maintains effective maritime coercion, continuing to deter commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. The situation remains volatile following a reported boarding incident near the UAE, though the U.S. is reportedly working with international partners, including China, to ensure the waterway remains demilitarized. Legislatively, the Trump administration successfully avoided congressional interference as a House War Powers resolution ended in a 212–212 deadlock. The tie vote occurred despite three Republicans crossing party lines to support the measure, which sought to halt military operations conducted without congressional authorization after a May 1 legal deadline. While the White House maintains that hostilities were "terminated" by a previous ceasefire, the administration continues to frame Iran's nuclear enrichment as a primary justification for ongoing pressure.