- US Secretary of State Says Iranian Demands Remain Unacceptable, While Washington Keeps Diplomatic Options Open
WASHINGTON: Efforts to advance negotiations between the United States and Iran have yet to produce any meaningful progress, with no immediate breakthrough in sight, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said, highlighting persistent differences between the two sides.
Speaking to reporters before departing for Paris to attend the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, Rubio said Washington had no significant developments to report regarding its engagement with Tehran.
“I don’t have any progress in talks with Iran to report to you,” Rubio said, noting that several countries continued to engage with Iran and present different proposals in an effort to facilitate diplomatic progress.
However, he cautioned against expectations of an imminent agreement, stressing that the two sides were not close to a breakthrough.
Washington Keeps Diplomatic Door Open
Rubio emphasised that US President Donald Trump and his administration remained committed to resolving international disputes, including tensions with Iran, through diplomatic means wherever possible.
He said the president preferred peaceful solutions and remained willing to explore diplomatic opportunities, although he acknowledged that negotiations did not always guarantee success.
“The president would always prefer to solve this and every problem diplomatically. Sometimes that’s not possible, unfortunately, but if there’s a chance to do it, we’ll explore it,” Rubio stated.
US Criticises Iran’s Negotiating Demands
The US secretary of state attributed the lack of progress largely to what he described as Tehran’s unacceptable and unrealistic negotiating demands.
According to Rubio, Iran’s proposals had made the negotiation process particularly difficult, with some demands being, in his assessment, excessive and disconnected from realistic diplomatic possibilities.
“Right now, it hasn’t been very productive because the Iranian demands are simply not just unacceptable, but in some cases outrageous and ridiculous, and really not realistic,” he said.
Diplomatic Engagement Remains Uncertain
Rubio’s remarks underline the continuing challenges facing diplomatic efforts to ease tensions between Washington and Tehran. Although several countries are reportedly maintaining engagement and exploring possible proposals, substantial differences remain over the terms of a potential understanding.
For now, the United States says it remains open to diplomacy, but the prospects for a negotiated breakthrough appear uncertain.
BY: The Times Union
