Rubio Says Strait of Hormuz Must Reopen as U.S. and Iran Push Toward Nuclear Deal

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reiterated Washington’s demand that the Strait of Hormuz be reopened, warning that the strategically vital waterway must return to normal operations “one way or the other” as negotiations between the United States and Iran continue.

“The straits have to be open, they’re going to be open,” Rubio told reporters during a visit to India. He described the ongoing restrictions as unlawful, unsustainable and unacceptable to the international community.

Rubio said negotiators meeting in Qatar were continuing discussions over the details of a potential agreement to end the conflict. According to the secretary, much of the current debate involves language in an initial document, meaning negotiations could take several more days.

President Donald Trump, Rubio said, remains committed to securing either a strong agreement or no agreement at all.

The diplomatic discussions came as U.S. forces carried out what U.S. Central Command described as “self-defense strikes” in southern Iran on Monday. Central Command said the attacks were intended to protect American personnel from threats posed by Iranian forces.

Capt. Tim Hawkins, a Central Command spokesman, said the targets included missile launch sites and Iranian vessels allegedly attempting to place mines. He declined to provide specific details about which American ships had come under fire or the precise locations of the strikes.

A senior U.S. military official said American forces operating in the region had faced threats from Iranian surface-to-air missile systems. The U.S. military presence includes dozens of aircraft and nearly two dozen Navy warships, including two aircraft carriers and accompanying escort vessels.

The strikes reportedly occurred near Bandar Abbas, an important Iranian port and naval base.

Despite a cease-fire that took effect roughly six weeks earlier, American and Iranian forces have continued to confront one another in various ways. Monday’s strikes were particularly significant because they occurred while Iranian officials were meeting with U.S. representatives in Qatar to negotiate an agreement aimed at ending the war.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei acknowledged that substantial progress had been made in the negotiations but cautioned that a final agreement was not necessarily close.

“It is correct to say that we have reached a conclusion on a large portion of the issues under discussion,” Baqaei said, while accusing Washington of changing its positions during the negotiations.

Trump has said any agreement must be a “good and proper one.” He has also criticized the Obama administration’s 2015 nuclear agreement, arguing that it provided Iran with financial relief while leaving what he described as a path toward developing a nuclear weapon.

A senior administration official said Iran had agreed in principle to eliminate its highly enriched uranium as part of a potential agreement. However, negotiators are still working through important details.

Under the proposed framework, Iran would be required to reopen the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for the United States lifting its blockade of the waterway. Washington could also ease sanctions if Tehran accepts significant restrictions on uranium enrichment.

The administration is reportedly seeking a firm and enforceable commitment from Iran not to enrich uranium. Officials have indicated that the exact duration of such a commitment—whether 20 or 30 years—is less important than ensuring that the restrictions can be effectively enforced.

The emerging agreement could ultimately go further than the 2015 nuclear deal by imposing tougher and longer-lasting limits on Iran’s nuclear activities.

For now, however, diplomacy remains fragile. While negotiators appear to have reached common ground on several major issues, the final language and enforcement mechanisms remain unresolved, leaving the outcome of the talks uncertain.