Mary Margaret Olihan

Here's what they told me.

The negotiations, though they didn't end in a deal, helped the United States understand just how little Iran understood their own situation.

Vance dug into the Iranians' assessment of their own position, and he figured out that they had fundamentally misunderstood the cards that they had in their hand.

That's why Vance left after he made that final offer, I'm told, because in his view, if the Iranians believe they have leverage that they don't have, no deal is possible.

I'm also told that the White House views it this way.

And before they're ready to entertain a serious offer, the Iranians need to recognize that the realities on the ground do not match their assumptions heading into these negotiations.

And of course, after Vance left the country, Trump announced that the U.S.

would blockade the Strait because Iran had refused to commit to abandoning its nuclear program.

Well, President Trump addressed this a little bit on Monday afternoon as he spoke to reporters outside the Oval Office.

Another U.S.

official who I spoke with laid out six key objectives, and these are what they are.

One, Iran must end all uranium enrichment.

Two, dismantle all major nuclear enrichment facilities.

Three, retrieve highly enriched uranium.

Four, accept a broader peace, security, and de-escalation framework that includes regional allies.

Five, end funding for the terrorist proxies, Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis.

And six, finally, fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz, charging no tolls for passage.

Now, I'm told that this is absolutely still a deal that's on the table, but it's up to the Iranians whether or not they're going to accept it.

I was also told on Monday afternoon by a U.S.

official that, and I'm quoting, there is continued engagement between the U.S.