After meeting with mediators in Qatar, Trump says the Iran war is ending. Then Secretary Mohsen Rezaei claims the US is making things up
Another stalemate?
The situation regarding the conflict with Iran is moving fast, and the latest updates show a massive disconnect between Washington and Tehran. Following a meeting with mediators in Qatar, President Donald Trump claimed the war is ending quickly. However, Iran’s secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, Mohsen Rezaei, publicly slammed these claims on Monday, November 9, 2026. He accused the U.S. of manufacturing fake news about imaginary talks to end the U.S.–Israeli war on Iran.
According to The Hill, Rezaei did not hold back on X. He wrote, “The war on Iran has already wrecked the US government. But Washington flails like a desperate gambler. FOLD YOUR HAND. STOP manufacturing FAKE NEWS about imaginary talks. Stop denying the West Asian NEW ORDER.” This statement highlights how far apart the two sides remain. Rezaei also called on the U.S. to “SURRENDER to the seven conditions Iran has repeatedly set out.”
These seven conditions are the core of the current stalemate. Iran has effectively shut off the Strait of Hormuz since the fighting began. They have offered to reopen this vital global maritime corridor only if the U.S. agrees to their demands. These demands include lifting sanctions and releasing billions of dollars in frozen Iranian assets. Rezaei also mentioned that the list includes ending the fighting on all fronts, specifically addressing Israel’s attacks on Lebanon.
The administration in Washington has rejected these conditions
Secretary of State Marco Rubio pushed back on Iran’s requests while in Paris on Tuesday. He told reporters, “Iran is demanding reparations. They should be the ones paying reparations because they’re the ones that have destabilized the region for long periods of time. They’re demanding pallets of cash, which the president’s made clear is not going to happen.”
Rubio did offer a glimpse into the U.S. perspective on a potential nuclear energy program for Iran. He stated that “they should have one like many other countries around the world have” but noted there are “things they can do” to reach that goal. He added, “Now, I think they want a deal, there’s no doubt they’d like a deal too, but they’re just not ready to make one, apparently. But we’re open to it.”
Despite these diplomatic signals, the reality on the ground in the Strait of Hormuz tells a different story. According to Al Jazeera, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said that at least three ships hit mines and caught fire in the area on Tuesday. These vessels were reportedly using an unauthorized route in the eastern part of the strait.
The U.K. Maritime Trade Operations agency also reported incidents involving two tankers, including one struck by an unknown projectile near Oman. These events follow a grim month in November, where maritime firms recorded at least 37 attacks on ships in the region. This is the highest monthly total since the war began.
Iran is ‘still waiting for an explicit and clear response’
Rezaei told Lebanon’s Al Mayadeen TV on Tuesday that claims “about continuing negotiations or holding a meeting in Qatar is a pure lie.” He claimed Washington is talking up the prospect of negotiations to try and ease economic pressure and force oil prices down. The secretary reiterated that the Strait of Hormuz will stay closed until the U.S. meets the seven conditions. He noted, “Their initial response was insufficient and deceptive, and we are still waiting for an explicit and clear response.”
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has also been active in expressing Iran’s position. He told the state news agency IRNA on Tuesday that “The conflict with Iran will not be resolved through military means, nor by intensifying sanctions.”
Araghchi added, “The only solution is to adopt a language of respect, engage in diplomacy, and address Iran’s demands and conditions – which were outlined in the two-day proposal and remain on the table.” He claimed that if those demands are met, the strait could be reopened within two days.
Trump recently downplayed his earlier suggestion of renewing strikes on Iran after the midterms
This shift in tone happened despite reported strikes on Qeshm Island last Monday and last Friday. During a White House press conference on Monday, Trump claimed the war was “ending quickly.” He mentioned the U.S. wants “to take care of people that have been very good to us over the years,” referring to regional allies. This came right after his meeting with Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.
Rubio also spoke about the U.S. economic strategy while in Paris. He said, “The economic campaign is so devastating that right now there is no need for major combat operations.” He told allies that Washington remains open to diplomacy if the same objectives can be achieved through economic means.
Meanwhile, the war is now in its ninth month. It continues to disrupt global oil and gas supplies, keeping prices high. The administration has acknowledged that the conflict played a role in the recent election outcomes, as inflation and gas costs became major issues for voters.
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