WASHINGTON — Donald Trump held a Cabinet meeting at the White House on Wednesday instead of Camp David as the United States and Iran continued negotiations over a potential long-term peace agreement.
Trump had planned to convene the meeting at Camp David, the presidential retreat in Maryland, but moved it to the White House because of forecasted severe weather.
Over the weekend, Trump said a deal between the United States and Iran was close to completion. Marco Rubio also said an agreement could be finalized within days.
The talks continued as Iranian officials criticized recent U.S. military strikes in Iran, calling them violations of the ongoing ceasefire. Iran’s foreign minister warned that the country would respond to any further attacks.
The criticism followed U.S. military operations earlier this week in southern Iran. United States Central Command said the strikes were defensive actions taken after Iranian boats were seen laying mines and a missile site targeted American aircraft.
On Wednesday evening, Reuters reported that U.S. forces launched another round of strikes against Iranian targets believed to threaten American forces and commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. The report cited an unnamed U.S. official who said American forces struck a military site and shot down several drones.
During the Cabinet meeting, Trump said no nation would control the Strait of Hormuz and described it as international waters.
“We’re going to watch over it,” Trump told reporters.
Trump also warned Oman after Iranian state television suggested the country could help oversee shipping traffic in the region under a negotiated framework.
At the same meeting, Pete Hegseth said the United States remained prepared to take military action if negotiations failed to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
Rubio said diplomacy remained the administration’s preferred approach but added that the coming days would be critical for determining whether negotiations succeed.