US sees 'some progress' in Iran talks, demands nuclear concessions

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Saturday that "some progress" has been made in peace negotiations with Iran, telling reporters in New Delhi that diplomatic channels remain open to resolve the nuclear standoff and reopen the blockaded Strait of Hormuz before the conflict escalates further. Speaking following talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Rubio cautioned that he was uncertain whether developments would emerge later in the day, but stressed that the issue "needs to be solved one way or another."

Nuclear and Maritime Demands

Rubio outlined specific conditions for a diplomatic resolution, stating that Iran "can never have a nuclear weapon" and must surrender its highly enriched uranium stockpiles. "We need to address the issue of enrichment," he told reporters, adding that Tehran must also cease its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz — a vital commercial waterway — and abandon demands for transit tolls on international shipping.

In a separate interview with Indian broadcaster NDTV, Rubio reiterated that Iran's closure of the Hormuz waterway is "illegal" and "unlawful under any mechanism." He accused Iranian forces of firing upon commercial vessels and warned that no country has the right to claim international waterways as sovereign territory subject to tolls.

Military Option Remains

Asked whether Washington would launch fresh strikes against Iranian targets, Rubio rejected the possibility of a prolonged "status quo," emphasizing that the conflict will be resolved "one way or the other." While stating that the US "prefers" a diplomatic solution, he warned that military action remains an alternative if negotiations fail to produce concrete results.

The United States and Iran have been exchanging proposals and counterproposals through Islamabad to end the Hormuz blockade and address concerns over Tehran's nuclear program alongside demands for sanctions relief. Talks have intensified as regional tensions mount over the two-month conflict that has disrupted global energy shipments and raised fears of wider escalation.