Al Jazeera
The United States is poised to either secure a substantial agreement with Iran or confront the nation through alternative means, according to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. This statement follows President Donald Trump’s effort to manage expectations regarding the likelihood of a swift resolution to the ongoing conflict.
Rubio, speaking in New Delhi on Monday, remarked, "We thought we might have some news last night, maybe today. I wouldn't read too much into it," referencing the ongoing negotiations aimed at concluding the US-Israeli war against Iran, which commenced on February 28.
He indicated confidence in the negotiations, adding, "We have what I think is a pretty solid thing on the table in terms of their ability to open up the straits, get the straits open," during an official visit to the Indian capital.
Since April 8, a ceasefire has been in place between Washington and Tehran, despite Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz affecting most shipping routes and the US imposing a blockade on Iranian ports.
The previous day, Trump communicated via Truth Social that the US blockade would continue "in full force and effect until an agreement is reached, certified, and signed." He emphasized the necessity for both parties to take their time to ensure a proper resolution.
Iran's government has not yet responded publicly. However, the Tasnim News Agency, linked to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, reported that the US is still hindering the progression of a potential deal.
Rubio reiterated, "We're either going to have a good agreement, or we're going to have to deal with it another way. We'd prefer to have a good agreement."
Points of contention
A senior official from the Trump administration outlined what he characterized as the key issues under negotiation. Speaking on the condition of anonymity, the official informed the Reuters news agency that Iran had tentatively agreed to dispose of its stockpile of highly enriched uranium and allow the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for the US lifting its naval blockade.
The official asserted that Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei had approved the general framework of the deal, though no immediate confirmation or detailed explanation from Iran was provided regarding the meaning of "in principle."
According to the US official, the initial focus would be on reopening the strait and lifting the naval blockade, while discussions about the nuclear measures would require additional time. The official refuted claims that Iran had rejected the idea of disposing of its enriched uranium, clarifying, "It's a question about how."
Charles Kupchan, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, expressed skepticism about the timeliness of reaching an agreement between the US and Iran. He commented, "I think this is kind of par for the course for the Trump administration. One day they walk this way. The next day they walk that way."
He added, "Part of the conversations are private. Part of it is public diplomacy, but until we have a concrete sense that the Iranians are likely to say yes to getting rid of their highly enriched uranium … and to opening this Strait of Hormuz with no restrictions, I think one can say that we're still far away from a lasting deal."
Share this story