President Donald Trump said the United States had “won in Iran” on Sunday, Nov. 8, but also indicated that fighting could continue if Tehran did not accept a strong agreement. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said talks with Iran had made little progress, leaving no sign of an imminent diplomatic breakthrough.
Trump told reporters the conflict was “just a matter of closing it out now or later.” He said renewed fighting was highly unlikely, while warning that the United States had identified Iranian infrastructure targets, including power plants and bridges. A transcript of Trump’s remarks records his claim that the U.S. had won.
Trump also said the United States had not lost any service members. The Pentagon’s reported tally, however, listed 23 U.S. service members killed since the war began in late February.
Rubio says negotiations have not advanced
Rubio described some Iranian demands as “overblown, ridiculous and really unrealistic” and said steps taken so far had not been constructive. He said Trump preferred a diplomatic resolution but that an agreement was not close.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei rejected Rubio’s characterization, saying Iran’s pursuit of its rights and interests was not unreasonable. He said Washington must end sanctions, the naval blockade and the war on all fronts before negotiations could begin. Tehran’s proposal to restore security in the Strait of Hormuz remained on the table, he said.
Separately, Iran’s Tasnim news agency reported that a U.S. projectile struck Qeshm Island on Sunday. The report said no other areas in Hormozgan province were hit. Iran also said an oil tanker caught fire after striking a naval mine in the Strait of Hormuz; the United States had reported an attack on a commercial vessel in the Gulf of Oman the previous day.
Trump said his decision on further strikes would depend on whether Iran signed what he called a strong agreement. He told CBS he was not seeking to intensify the war and saw no reason to do so at that time.
Clayton Ward 
Nicole French