Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that the US would pursue “another way” if nuclear talks with Iran fail. His remarks followed Donald Trump’s instruction not to rush into a deal. The ultimatum comes three months into the war that has battered energy markets and strained the administration’s domestic standing.
Marco Rubio talks about Iran peace deal
Speaking to reporters in New Delhi, Rubio said the administration would exhaust diplomacy before exploring alternatives. “We will either have a good agreement with Iran or deal with the country another way,” he stated.
He confirmed a framework exists to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and begin time-limited nuclear negotiations. “There was a pretty solid thing on the table in terms of their ability to open up the strait, get the strait open, enter into a very real, significant, time-limited negotiation on the nuclear matter, and hopefully we can pull it off,” Rubio said (via Reuters).
Donald Trump had signalled caution a day earlier. “Both sides must take their time and get it right,” he wrote on Truth Social, insisting the naval blockade of Iranian ships would stay in “full force and effect until an agreement is reached, certified, and signed.” This tempered expectations he had raised on Saturday by claiming a memorandum of understanding was “largely negotiated.”
However, Iran demands sanctions relief and access to tens of billions in frozen oil revenues. The Tasnim news agency, linked to the Revolutionary Guards, said Washington continues blocking parts of a deal, including those funds. Nuclear enrichment, Israel’s war with Hezbollah, and Tehran’s insistence that its programme is civilian remain unresolved.
Iranian parliament spokesperson Ebrahim Rezaei defined Tehran’s approach. “During military conflict Iran’s tactic was ‘an eye for an eye,’ and in diplomatic conflict it is ‘action for action’,” he said. He added on X that Washington could “continue bluffing” if it wanted $6-gasoline.
Trump has touted a deal as his approval ratings suffer from the Iran war’s effect on energy prices, and Congress moves to limit his war powers. A fragile ceasefire has held since early April.
Originally reported by Devanshi Basu on Mandatory.
