US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, outlined the features of the US strategy towards Iran, warning that reaching a diplomatic settlement with Tehran requires “hard effort and a long time,” in parallel with his waving the military pressure card that is still on President Donald Trump’s table.
In press statements he made on Wednesday, Rubio stressed Washington’s firm commitment to protecting vital waterways and ensuring freedom of navigation and the opening of straits, stressing at the same time the red lines of his country’s administration, which are absolutely preventing Iran from possessing nuclear weapons. The American diplomat described Tehran’s regional behavior as “malicious,” stressing that there is an international consensus regarding this assessment.
These positions coincide with a diplomatic movement witnessed in New York City on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly meetings. On September 22nd, Rubio indicated Washington’s readiness to hold meetings with Iranian officials on the condition that they were constructive in nature, adding at the time that any meeting was not officially included on the agenda.
In the same context, on the same date, President Donald Trump confirmed the continuation of contacts with the Iranian side, expressing his optimism in the possibility of reaching a settlement on the condition that any Iranian nuclear ambitions are excluded.
While the US administration adheres to the option of open negotiation supported by military readiness, the conditions for navigation security and the nuclear file remain a fundamental barrier, in light of the continuing wide gap between the two parties without reaching a final agreement.
