Rubio signals progress in Iran talks but warns no breakthrough yet

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has outlined two separate tracks in ongoing negotiations with Iran, emphasizing that Washington remains committed to preventing Tehran from ever acquiring nuclear weapons. Speaking on Tuesday, Rubio made clear that preventing Iran’s nuclear ambitions represents the ultimate goal of American diplomacy. “The president has been unequivocal on this point,” Rubio stated, stressing that complete dismantling of Iran’s nuclear capabilities remains the overarching objective of negotiations.

Rubio acknowledged that alongside the broader nuclear agreement, a separate set of talks is currently underway focusing on immediate regional concerns, particularly maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz. The Strait, through which roughly a third of the world’s seaborne oil passes, has become a critical flashpoint in regional tensions.

While indicating that discussions have yielded tangible progress, Rubio stopped short of declaring a breakthrough, cautioning that significant work remains. “We have seen progress in these talks, but we have not yet achieved a final breakthrough,” the Secretary of State said. “We hope this will happen very soon,” he added, suggesting that American officials remain optimistic about the trajectory of negotiations despite the challenging nature of the discussions.

Source: Walla News — Original article in Hebrew.