US-Iran Peace Deal May Take a Few More Days as Fresh US Strikes Hit Iran
Updated
Updated · POLITICO Europe · May 26
US-Iran Peace Deal May Take a Few More Days as Fresh US Strikes Hit Iran
12 articles · Updated · POLITICO Europe · May 26
Marco Rubio said a U.S.-Iran agreement to end the three-month war may need “a few more days,” cooling expectations for a rapid breakthrough.
Hours earlier, U.S. forces launched fresh strikes on Iranian targets, which Central Command said were defensive actions to protect American troops from threats posed by Iranian forces.
Rubio said President Donald Trump wants either “a good deal or no deal,” signaling Washington is still pursuing negotiations even as military operations continue.
During a four-day India visit, Rubio discussed the war’s impact on global energy prices with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, underscoring the conflict’s wider economic stakes.
As the U.S. strikes Iran while negotiating peace, can diplomacy succeed when overshadowed by the threat of all-out war?
With dueling blockades choking the Strait of Hormuz, can a peace deal be reached before global energy markets collapse?
1,598 Civilians Dead, Oil Near $99: US-Iran Peace Talks Teeter on Brink in May 2026
Overview
As of May 26, 2026, the United States and Iran are engaged in intensive negotiations, but a final settlement remains distant. Talks focus on a memorandum of understanding that proposes a 60-day extension of the ceasefire, reopening the Strait of Hormuz, and setting a framework for future nuclear discussions. However, key issues like sanctions relief and Iran’s nuclear ambitions are postponed for later talks, and US media notes that an immediate comprehensive agreement is unlikely. Meanwhile, ongoing military actions highlight the fragility of the ceasefire, with recent US strikes and Iranian responses threatening to derail diplomatic progress.