US and Iran signal progress in talks as Washington keeps military option open

Trump administration officials say negotiations with Iran have advanced, yet Washington keeps military options open with the US midterm elections days away.

• Vice President J.D. Vance announced the US made progress in talks with Iran and has set no deadline for resuming strikes.
• Trump said Iran wants a deal with Washington, citing a $10 oil price drop, and threatened military action if negotiations fail.
• Netanyahu and Trump held a sharp phone call in which the Israeli premier pressed to resume the war while Trump insisted on giving talks more time.
• Iranian security official Ali Bagheri said Tehran will not compromise on its sovereignty; the IRGC declared itself "100 percent ready" to confront another attack.
• Tehran said the ball is in the US court and insisted Washington must lift its naval blockade and meet its demands in full before any agreement.
• Russia's Foreign Ministry warned the United States and Israel against launching new strikes, saying military action would not break Iranians' will to defend their sovereignty.