US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says negotiations between Washington and Tehran are “still progressing” and stressed that President Donald Trump is “not in a hurry” to reach an agreement with Iran.
Speaking before departing New Delhi, Rubio said there is currently “a very strong proposal” on the table for a possible agreement and suggested that if the Strait of Hormuz remains open, it could create conditions for “a very real, meaningful, and time-limited negotiation on nuclear issues.”
Rubio emphasized that President Trump “is not going to make a bad deal” and said the United States is giving diplomacy every opportunity to succeed before considering other options.
“We will either have a good agreement, or we will have to deal with this issue in another way — and we would prefer to have a good agreement,” Rubio said.
When asked why no agreement has yet been announced, Rubio responded: “You would have to ask the Iranians. We are waiting to hear their views, and in their system it takes some time for them to respond.”
The remarks come as tensions between Iran, the United States, and Israel remain high, with Iran’s nuclear program and security in the Strait of Hormuz continuing to dominate regional diplomacy and international concerns.
Recent reports suggest Washington and Tehran have been exploring new diplomatic channels in recent weeks in an effort to reduce tensions and potentially move toward a broader agreement.
