US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington and Tehran have made significant progress in talks to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Talking to reporters, Rubio said, a preliminary agreement could pave the way for broader negotiations on Iran’s nuclear programme and regional security.
However, he stressed that President Donald Trump would not accept what he called a bad deal and would give diplomacy every chance before considering other options. The Strait of Hormuz, through which nearly one-fifth of the world’s energy supplies pass, has faced major disruptions since joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran earlier this year.
The US Secretary of State said there has been global support for the ongoing efforts to end the conflict in West Asia, but added that the road to peace is not very easy. Mr Rubio also said the United States is continuing efforts to maintain stability in Lebanon, blaming Hezbollah for ongoing tensions in the region. Rubio is currently in India for meetings with Indian leaders and will attend the Quad foreign ministers’ meeting in New Delhi.
