U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio says negotiations for a potential deal with Iran could take “a few days,” citing new U.S. military action in southern Iran. The remarks come a day after U.S. Central Command carried out strikes that Washington described as defensive. U.S. officials say the targets included missile launch sites and boats attempting to lay mines in the area, with Rubio adding that the Strait of Hormuz must remain open “one way or the other.”
The strikes are reported as occurring despite a ceasefire that has been in place since April 8. In parallel, Iranian negotiators hold talks with Qatari mediators in Doha, according to multiple reports. Both sides say they have made progress toward a broader peace agreement, but key obstacles remain, leaving uncertainty over how quickly an agreement could be reached. Multiple outlets frame Rubio’s comments as tempering hopes for an imminent end to the conflict.
