There is slight progress in Iran talks, says Rubio

UNCERTAIN TIMES | POTUS, Secy of State sharpen warnings to Tehran over imposing toll on shipping in Strait of Hormuz

Agencies Helsingborg

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Friday there was “slight progress” during talks with Iran amid uncertainty whether a deal will be reached or war will resume.  Rubio spoke ahead of a meeting of Nato foreign ministers in Helsingborg, Sweden, where the military alliance is expected to discuss what role it could play in helping police the Strait of Hormuz once the war is over.

Rubio said he did not want to exaggerate the progress, saying there had been “a little bit of movement and that's good”. He said the conversations were ongoing. Still, in recent weeks there have been repeated claims of progress, yet a deal has not been reached.  

President Donald Trump and Rubio mixed warnings with diplomacy in their latest comments on Iran, emphasising Tehran would not be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons. Speaking to repor­ters at Miami Homestead Airport before departing for India, Rubio warned Iran against any attempt to impose tolls in the strait.

“We’ve always said a tolling system in the strait would be unacceptable,” Rubio said, adding the US was backing a UN Security Council resolution sponsored by Bahrain opposing any such move. “It has over a hundred — it is — the highest number of co-sponsors in the history of the Security Council have signed onto our resolution,” Rubio said, adding China opposed the proposal. 

“No one in the world is in favour of a tolling system. It can’t happen; it would be unacceptable,” he said. “It would make a diplomatic deal unfeasible if they were to continue to pursue that.” At the White House, Trump said the US had “total control of the Strait of Hormuz” through its naval operations. The US President said, "We cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon. You will have a nuclear war in the Middle East, and that war will come here, that war will go to Europe.” 

Rubio signalled diplomacy remained active, though uncertain. “The president’s preference is always a deal. His preferences are always an agreement and always diplomacy.” He cautioned against excessive optimism. 

“We’re going to do everything we can to see if we can get a deal,” Rubio said.  India also figured in Rubio’s remarks as he addressed concerns over energy security and supply disruptions. 

“We want to sell them as much energy as they'll buy,” Rubio said, adding, “They’re a great ally, a great partner; we do a lot of good work with them.”

Naqvi, Araghchi hold fresh talks 

Islamabad: Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Tehran on Friday for the second time within 24 hours to review proposals aimed at ending the war between the US and Iran. Naqvi met Araghchi to review proposals for resolving disputes. They discussed detailed proposals to end the US-Iran conflict. Meanwhile, Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir arrived in Tehran to broker a peace deal between the US and Iran. —PTI