Rubio says Iran's demands stall nuclear talks, Trump remains open to diplomacy

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 indication of an imminent breakthrough. He said several countries continue to present proposals to Tehran, but the talks remain unproductive because "the Iranian demands are simply not just unacceptable, but in some cases outrageous and ridiculous and really not realistic."

Rubio emphasized that President Donald Trump remains willing to pursue diplomacy, stating that the president "would always prefer to solve every problem diplomatically" and that the United States will explore any chance for a diplomatic solution.

He also defended the president's recent military actions against Iran, arguing that Trump has addressed a long-standing security threat that previous administrations did not, and called for bipartisan acknowledgment 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 further military strikes. In a CNN interview, Trump said a strong nuclear agreement could avoid 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.