Trump says Iran strikes 'highly unlikely' if talks progress, vessels still hit in Hormuz

US President Donald Trump said on Sunday he was highly unlikely to order fresh attacks on Iran as long as talks to end the conflict continued to make progress, even as both countries reported that shipping had been hit in or near the Strait of Hormuz.

"It depends on whether or not they sign a very strong agreement," Trump told CNN in a phone interview. "The answer is, highly unlikely it's going to be necessary."

Later on Sunday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that diplomatic efforts to end the US-Iran conflict had made little progress, calling Iran's demands "unacceptable."

"Right now, it hasn't been very productive because the Iranian demands are simply not just unacceptable, but in some cases really not realistic," Rubio told reporters in Florida before departing for France to attend a Group of Seven (G7) foreign ministers' meeting.

"I wouldn't say we're at the verge of a breakthrough," said Rubio, reiterating that the Trump administration preferred a diplomatic solution to the conflict.

Incidents reported in Strait of Hormuz

Meanwhile, tensions remained high around the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for global energy supplies.

Explosions were heard in several areas on Sunday evening, including Qeshm Island in the strait. Iran's state television, cited by Reuters, said Iranian officials had not confirmed reports of missile strikes on Iranian territory.

Iranian media suggested the explosions might have been linked to Iranian military activity in the waterway. Iranian authorities said two vessels had struck mines and a third had caught fire.

The latest incidents came as both Iran and the US continued to take action against vessels in and around the strait, disrupting the movement of energy and other commodities vital to the global economy.

The US military said on Saturday ​evening that its air force had fired at the stern ​of a commercial vessel in the Gulf of Oman, ⁠disabling it as it tried to get through the blockade.

US steps up efforts to enforce blockade

Washington has also moved to strengthen its efforts to restrict Iran's access to military supplies.

The US Central Command announced on Saturday the formation of Task Force Iron Gate, a unit of about 20 military and civilian personnel tasked with coordinating efforts across US government agencies to disrupt the movement of advanced weapons and other materials across Iran's land borders and other routes.

Trump said on social media Sunday that the task force was "in full force and effect" in Iran, and that, combined with the US naval blockade, "very little gets into, or out of, Iran."

Regional diplomatic efforts continue

Despite persistent tensions, diplomatic efforts to end the conflict have continued. Qatar, which has been mediating in talks to try to end a conflict that has ⁠shaken the world ​economy, on Saturday denied reports that the US and Iran had failed to reach a deal.

The Qatari prime minister had affirmed that both sides ​were continuing to work toward an agreement.

Separately, an Iraqi delegation visited Tehran and held talks with Iranian officials, conveying a message from the United States during an eight-hour mission, Xinhua reported, citing Saudi-owned Al Hadath television.

The report did not identify the members of the Iraqi delegation or the Iranian officials they met, nor did it reveal the contents of the US message.

(With input from agencies)