So, the fighting in Iran has been going on for about three weeks. President Donald Trump hinted on Friday that maybe it's time to start "winding down" the war, but U.S. officials are still predicting another two to three weeks of combat. In the meantime, it seems the administration is starting to think about what happens after the shooting stops. According to a report, Trump's advisers—including envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff—are now shifting their focus to preparing for diplomacy.

Let's talk about what that diplomacy might look like. First, the basics: any agreement to stop the fighting would need to get the Strait of Hormuz reopened (that's the critical chokepoint for global oil shipments) and would have to deal with Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium. An official told the publication that U.S. pressure has slowed Iran's growth, and the thinking is that this might finally convince Iranian leaders to come to the negotiating table.

If they do come to the table, the U.S. has a list. It's not a short list. The report says the U.S. is pushing for Iran to make six commitments:

• A five-year halt to its missile program.
• Zero uranium enrichment. None.
• The decommissioning of its Natanz, Isfahan, and Fordow nuclear facilities.
• Strict observation protocols on all nuclear-related machinery.
• Arms control treaties with other countries in the region.
• No financial support to proxy groups, including Hezbollah, the Houthis, or Hamas.

Here's the thing: Iran has repeatedly said no to these demands in the past. So, the starting position for talks is a list of things the other side has already rejected. That's one way to do it.

Then there's the money question. A U.S. official suggested there might be room to talk about returning frozen Iranian assets as part of a deal. "They call it reparations," the official said. "Maybe we call it return of frozen money." It's all about the branding. However, for President Trump, any possibility of what looks like reparations is a "non-starter." So, the message is: we might give you back your own money, but don't call it compensation for the war.

Figuring out who to talk to is another puzzle. The administration is reportedly trying to identify the right Iranian decision-makers for negotiations and a suitable mediator. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has acted as an intermediary before, but U.S. officials see him as lacking real authority. On the mediator front, the team apparently prefers Qatar over Oman as a trusted behind-the-scenes go-between, though Qatar itself doesn't want to serve as the main official mediator. So, they're looking for a mediator who doesn't really want the job.

Trump has been clear about his stance on a ceasefire. In the past, he said he wasn't opposed to negotiations but rejected Iran's demand for an immediate stop to fighting. "You don't do a ceasefire when you're literally obliterating the other side," he said, also pointing out that he believed there were no leaders left in Iran to talk to. Last week, he stated the U.S. is not "ready" to end the military conflict immediately but plans to withdraw in the near future.

The Strait of Hormuz remains a huge point of tension. Trump has already issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Iran over the strait, threatening to "obliterate" Iran's power plants if his demands aren't met. All recent communication between the U.S. and Iran has been indirect, with messages being relayed through Egypt, Qatar, and the U.K.

And what does Iran want? Sources say Iran has expressed interest in negotiations but is demanding a ceasefire, a guarantee of no future war, and compensation. That's pretty much the opposite of the U.S. position, which is no ceasefire until they're ready, no reparations, and a long list of preconditions. So, if they're starting to sketch out exit plans, they still have a lot to talk about—if they can even find someone to talk to.