Rubio Says Strait of Hormuz Must Reopen as U.S.-Iran Talks Continue
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Thursday that the Trump administration remains focused on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy corridor disrupted by the ongoing crisis. Speaking during a visit to India, Rubio said the waterway “has to be open,” describing its closure as “unlawful, illegal, unsustainable for the world, and unacceptable.”
Rubio confirmed that U.S. and Iranian representatives are continuing discussions in Qatar as negotiators work through the language of a preliminary agreement. He reiterated President Donald Trump’s position that Washington is seeking “a good deal or no deal,” while acknowledging that finalizing an agreement could take additional time.
The diplomatic efforts continued alongside military action. U.S. Central Command said American forces conducted what it described as “self-defense strikes” in southern Iran. Capt. Tim Hawkins said the operation targeted missile facilities and Iranian vessels allegedly involved in efforts to place naval mines near key maritime routes.
U.S. officials said the strikes were intended to protect American personnel and military assets while maintaining the broader cease-fire framework. A senior defense official said U.S. aircraft and naval forces operating near the Gulf of Oman and Arabian Sea had faced threats from Iranian surface-to-air missile systems. The strikes reportedly occurred near Bandar Abbas, a major Iranian naval hub.
Despite the military activity, negotiations in Qatar continued. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said Tehran and Washington had reached areas of understanding on several issues but emphasized that no final agreement had yet been reached. He also accused the United States of changing its positions during the negotiations.
President Trump said any future agreement with Iran would be “good and proper” while again criticizing the 2015 nuclear deal negotiated during the Obama administration. Trump argued that the earlier agreement provided Iran with economic relief without permanently preventing Tehran from developing the capability to pursue nuclear weapons.
According to a senior U.S. administration official, negotiators have made progress toward a framework that would require Iran to eliminate its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and accept significant restrictions on future uranium enrichment. In exchange, the United States would end its naval blockade and begin a phased reduction of economic sanctions.
Officials said the major political issues have largely been resolved in principle, although technical details, verification procedures, and enforcement mechanisms remain under negotiation. Washington’s central objective is a long-term, verifiable agreement that prevents Iran from exceeding agreed nuclear limits, with strong enforcement provisions considered essential to ensuring compliance.
The Trump administration believes that recent military pressure has increased Tehran’s willingness to negotiate. If finalized, the proposed agreement would impose stricter limits on Iran’s nuclear program than those established under the 2015 accord, while linking sanctions relief and the end of the naval blockade to Iran’s compliance with the deal.
