Rubio Says Iran Deal Not Imminent
- Marco Rubio said Iran talks may take several more days.
- Strait of Hormuz reopening remains a central negotiation priority.
- Uranium stockpile and sanctions relief remain major sticking points.
- Ongoing regional strikes threaten fragile diplomatic progress.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Tuesday that negotiations with Iran could take “a few days,” cooling expectations of an immediate breakthrough as fresh military tensions threatened to complicate ongoing diplomacy in Doha.
Speaking during his visit to India, Rubio said Washington remained open to negotiations but would continue sanctions and “pressure measures” until any agreement was finalized and verified. He also stressed that the Strait of Hormuz “has to remain open one way or the other” after new U.S. strikes on Monday targeted Iranian missile launch sites and boats allegedly attempting to lay naval mines near key shipping routes.
The strikes came days after an explosion involving commercial shipping activity near the Strait of Hormuz heightened concerns about maritime security and global oil supplies. Brent crude briefly surged above $100 per barrel during the recent escalation.
Uranium Stockpile Remains Biggest Obstacle
At the center of the negotiations is Iran’s uranium stockpile. According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, Iran currently possesses more than 400 kilograms of uranium enriched up to 60% purity, far above levels typically associated with civilian nuclear programs but still below weapons-grade enrichment.
Washington wants the stockpile diluted or removed under IAEA supervision as part of any agreement. Tehran, however, insists its nuclear program is intended for peaceful purposes and has resisted what Iranian officials describe as unilateral concessions made under military pressure.
Doha Talks Focus on Sanctions and Shipping Access
This also comes on the heels of Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and senior negotiators, who are currently in Doha holding talks with Qatari mediators on a proposed phased framework agreement. Diplomatic sources cited by Reuters said the discussions include Strait of Hormuz shipping access, Iran’s nuclear program, sanctions relief and frozen Iranian funds.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Monday that “no final agreement was imminent” and insisted “nuclear issues would only be discussed” after a broader framework accord was reached.
President Donald Trump said negotiations were progressing “nicely” but warned additional military action could follow if diplomacy failed. Trump has also publicly demanded stricter guarantees over Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile and regional security commitments.
Meanwhile, Iranian authorities are also demanding access to roughly $100 billion in frozen oil revenues, along with broader sanctions relief as part of any agreement. The Trump administration additionally wants stronger guarantees over maritime security and regional stability, including limits on Iranian-backed armed groups operating across the Middle East, conditions Tehran has resisted linking directly to the nuclear negotiations.
Regional Military Activity Threatens Fragile Diplomacy
The negotiations are unfolding alongside continued military activity across the Middle East, underscoring the fragility of the ceasefire environment. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would intensify operations against Iran-backed Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, while Israeli forces later confirmed strikes in the Bekaa Valley.
Iran also claimed it had intercepted a hostile stealth drone using a new air-defense system, though officials did not specify where the incident occurred or who operated the aircraft.
The continuing military activity in the Gulf, Lebanon and around the Strait of Hormuz has highlighted the risk that any miscalculation could derail the Doha negotiations even as diplomatic contacts continue.
