Rubio blames Iran for stalled nuclear talks as Trump keeps diplomacy talk alongside military threats
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U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said negotiations over a nuclear agreement with Iran have made little progress, denouncing Tehran’s demands as unrealistic while President Donald Trump says he prefers diplomacy but keeps the option of force on the table.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters on Sunday that negotiations over a possible nuclear agreement with Iran have yielded little progress and that there is no sign of any imminent breakthrough. He said several countries continue to float proposals to Tehran, but the talks remain stuck because "the Iranian demands are simply not just unacceptable, but in some cases outrageous and ridiculous and really not realistic."
Rubio stressed that President Donald Trump still says he is open to diplomacy, claiming the president "would always prefer to solve every problem diplomatically" and that the United States will look at any possible path toward a diplomatic solution.
He also defended the president's recent military actions against Iran, arguing that Trump has confronted a long-running security issue that previous administrations failed to address, and he urged bipartisan recognition that a nuclear-armed Iran would be dangerous for the United States and the world.
Rubio asserted that the United States has the right to defend its military personnel and commercial shipping in the region, saying, "We have a right to defend ourselves."
The remarks came as Qatar continues to mediate contacts between Washington and Tehran, and President Trump discussed the possibility of more military strikes. In a CNN interview, Trump said a strong nuclear agreement could prevent another major confrontation, but he also warned that the United States is prepared to act militarily if diplomacy fails, noting the identification of 38 Iranian bridges that could be targeted.
"The answer is highly unlikely it’s going to be necessary," Trump said, adding that the United States has three aircraft carriers in the region and is ready to use force if needed.