Washington, May 21: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated on Thursday that there are “good signs” in the ongoing negotiations with Iran. However, he cautioned against raising expectations too high, stating that President Donald Trump still has other options if diplomacy fails.
Speaking to the media in Miami before heading to India, Rubio emphasized that the government prefers negotiation over confrontation. He stated, “The President’s preference is to make a good deal. That has always been his preference.” Rubio noted that there have been some developments in recent contacts with Tehran.
Referring to Iran’s political structure, he remarked, “I think we have made some progress, but clearly, we are dealing with a system that is somewhat broken.” He also mentioned that regional diplomatic activities related to Pakistan could help advance the talks.
Rubio added, “I believe the Pakistanis are going to Tehran today, so hopefully, this will further the discussions.” He clarified, “I am not here to tell you that this will definitely happen, but I am here to say that we will do everything possible to see if we can suddenly witness some developments in this matter.”
Additionally, the Secretary of State reiterated the Trump administration’s warnings regarding Iran’s nuclear ambitions and missile capabilities, stating, “The President has made it clear that he has other options. I won’t go into detail about what they are, but everyone knows what they are.”
Earlier in the discussions, Rubio criticized NATO allies for not doing enough to confront Iran, saying, “There are many countries in NATO that agree with us that Iran cannot have nuclear weapons, that Iran is a threat to the world.”
He pointed out, “They do not currently have missiles that can reach the US, but they have missiles that can reach Europe.” Rubio expressed frustration with allies who agree with the US assessment of Iran but are not willing to take action. He stated, “If all countries agree that Iran should not have nuclear weapons but still do not step forward, it is certainly a concern for us.”
Rubio emphasized that diplomacy remains America’s preferred path, saying, “Their preference is always a deal, their preference is always a compromise, their preference is always diplomacy. So let’s see if we can get there.”
This statement comes amid rising tensions over Iran’s nuclear activities, regional militias, and maritime security in West Asia, leading to new diplomatic engagements between Washington and Tehran.