NEW DELHI: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Monday that an agreement aimed at ending the war with Iran could materialise “today”, signalling cautious optimism as diplomatic efforts intensify across the Middle East.
“We thought we might have some news last night, maybe today, I wouldn’t read too much into it,” Rubio said in New Delhi, referring to the potential agreement.
“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,” he told reporters as he departed the Indian capital, where he has been on an official visit.
“It has a lot of support in the Gulf… every country that we’ve walked through it (with) understands it’s not just very reasonable, but it’s the right thing for the world to get done.”
Rubio also voiced confidence that Iran would “enter into a very real, significant, time-limited negotiation on the nuclear matter”.
He addressed reporters ahead of the next leg of his India visit, which will see him travel to Agra, the northern city famous for the Taj Mahal.
The United States and Iran have observed a ceasefire since April 8 while mediators push for a negotiated settlement. However, Iran has imposed controls on Gulf shipping, and the US has blockaded Iran’s ports.
The war erupted after the United States and Israel attacked the Islamic Republic on February 28, and Iran responded with missile and drone attacks across the region.
Rubio’s remarks came after US President Donald Trump said Sunday he had told his negotiators not to “rush,” even after both Tehran and Washington signalled progress towards an agreement to end the war.
“He’s not in a hurry, he’s not going to make a bad deal, and the president’s not going to make a bad agreement,” Rubio said of Trump.
“I have informed my representatives not to rush into a deal in that time is on our side,” Trump said in a social media post Sunday.
“The Blockade will remain in full force and effect until an agreement is reached, certified and signed,” he added.
Rubio told reporters that “Israel always has a right to protect itself”.
“If Hezbollah is going to launch missiles or launches missiles at them, Israel has every right to respond to that, or to prevent that from happening,” he said.
“That’s always been understood. It’s being understood during the ceasefire.”
