WASHINGTON, November 3, 2026 — In fresh remarks reported by the Associated Press on Tuesday, Vice President JD Vance said Washington and Tehran had held “good conversations” and expressed cautious optimism about a negotiated end to the conflict. He said any agreement must include a firm, verifiable commitment that Iran will not rebuild its nuclear programme. Vance also said he had written to Iranian security chief Mohsen Rezaei; Rezaei described the changed US tone as encouraging but had not replied, according to AP. The remarks do not amount to an agreement, and the talks remain indirect through Qatari mediators. The comments also came amid reports that Netanyahu had urged Trump to consider possible Iran strikes after the US midterms.
Those comments came as the United States was also reported to have carried out limited defensive strikes against Iranian targets in the Strait of Hormuz. The Associated Press, citing an unnamed US official, said American forces acted after Iranian forces used surface-to-air missiles against US assets; Iranian state television reported explosions on Qeshm Island. The Wall Street Journal, citing US officials, separately reported that the island was struck on Monday. The available accounts do not establish the precise targets, damage or casualties, and US Central Command had not issued a detailed public account in the reporting reviewed.
The reported operation should not be conflated with the broader campaign AP said Netanyahu was urging Trump to consider after the midterm elections. The limited strikes and the reported lobbying are separate developments; neither establishes that Trump has authorised a wider campaign. That distinction matters as Vance’s comments keep the diplomatic channel in view while military activity continues.
The report on the Netanyahu-Trump weekend call has not been publicly confirmed by either government. The Israeli government did not immediately comment, and the White House did not directly answer questions about whether Netanyahu urged Trump to resume strikes. Trump said publicly on Sunday that he had a “very good” call with Netanyahu and that they discussed Iran, but he did not describe the substance of the conversation. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said Trump has not made a decision and would prefer a diplomatic solution if one can be reached.
According to the AP report, Netanyahu pressed for strikes during the weekend call and has been working with senior US officials to persuade Trump to launch what one regional official described as a quick but extensive air campaign. The sources spoke anonymously because they were discussing classified briefings. AP reported that Trump did not commit to military action during the call and has not decided whether to approve another operation.
That distinction is central to the story. The reported request is not evidence that a new attack has been authorised, scheduled or operationally approved. Nor does it establish that the White House has abandoned negotiations. Public comments from Trump and Rubio leave the administration’s position unresolved: the president has kept military options open while continuing to signal that a deal remains preferable.
The AP report also describes a complicated political backdrop in Israel. Netanyahu and his far-right allies lost their parliamentary majority in last week’s election, and regional officials suggested a return to full-scale conflict could affect efforts to form an emergency government. That is a possible political consequence identified by sources, not a proven explanation for Netanyahu’s reported request. No public evidence establishes that domestic political calculations are the prime minister’s motive.
The White House and Netanyahu’s office have not provided a detailed public account of the weekend conversation. Without an official readout, the precise terms of the discussion, any military options presented and the extent of agreement between the two leaders remain unknown. The report should therefore be read as a description of pressure and deliberations, not a confirmation of a decision to resume hostilities.
Diplomacy has continued alongside the military discussion. AP reported that Qatari mediators have held two rounds of talks with Iranian officials and are trying to advance a framework under which Iran would stop attacks in the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for the United States lifting its blockade on Iranian ports. Vance said a deal must include a firm, verifiable commitment that Iran will not rebuild its nuclear programme. Further discussions were expected, but neither side had announced a breakthrough or agreed timetable.
The proposal, as described, would address a central point of leverage in the conflict: maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and the US restrictions on Iranian ports. It would not, by itself, settle every dispute between Washington and Tehran, including the future of Iran’s nuclear programme, regional security arrangements or the terms under which each side would verify compliance. No agreement had been announced in the reporting reviewed for this article.
The market response has shown how quickly expectations can shift. Brent crude fell more than 6.5% on Monday to $105.55 a barrel, its lowest level since October 16, as investors weighed the possibility of a deal, according to The Guardian. That price move reflects expectations, not proof that oil shipments have returned to normal. A renewed strike, a breakdown in negotiations or further disruption around the Strait of Hormuz could reverse the move quickly.