US-Iran Strikes Resume as Qatar Ceasefire Talks Stall Over Hormuz

Donald Trump moved his cabinet meeting from Camp David back to the White House on Wednesday after forecasts called for heavy rain in the Maryland area. The switch came as the president and his team reviewed updates on the economy, fraud reduction efforts, and the three-month conflict with Iran that shows little sign of wrapping up cleanly.

The session was meant to cover recent administration wins on small business and foreign policy, according to a White House spokesperson. Trump had originally planned the gathering at the presidential retreat, a location used for past Middle East talks, but the weather forced the change. He announced the adjustment on Truth Social, keeping the focus on domestic priorities even as negotiators in Doha work through proposals to end hostilities.

The fighting has kept the Strait of Hormuz largely closed since April, cutting off roughly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments. Dallas Federal Reserve President Lorie Logan warned that prolonged restrictions could force sharper cuts in worldwide energy use, with ripple effects on food and fertilizer prices already visible. U.S. oil producers expect only modest output gains this year and next, far short of replacing the 13 million barrels per day lost since the conflict began. Inventories are being drawn down in the meantime, and markets have yet to adjust fully.

Both sides have traded strikes despite the April ceasefire. U.S. Central Command reported attacks on Iranian missile sites and boats near the strait on Monday, describing them as defensive measures. Iran responded by claiming it shot down a U.S. drone and tracked other aircraft entering its airspace. South Korean investigators concluded that missiles linked to Iran struck a container ship in the strait earlier this month, though they stopped short of naming the exact perpetrator.

Iran continues to control shipping through the vital waterway and has demanded the release of frozen assets before signing any memorandum of understanding. Negotiations remain at an impasse, with Tehran showing no willingness to reopen the strait fully or address its nuclear stockpile in the near term. Internal divisions inside the Iranian regime have surfaced in recent parliamentary maneuvering, pitting factions open to limited concessions against those who see compromise as a threat to their hold on power.

Trump has described the talks as proceeding, yet the pattern of violations and economic pressure suggests leverage on both sides is still being tested. The cabinet meeting at the White House will give administration officials another chance to weigh next steps without the added complications of travel or weather delays.