Rubio Calls Iran's Demands 'Outrageous' as Talks Stall
Secretary of State Marco Rubio poured cold water on hopes for a quick deal with Iran on Sunday, saying talks have made little progress and Tehran keeps making demands Washington cannot accept.
Rubio spoke to reporters in Florida before leaving for Paris, where he is attending a meeting of G7 foreign ministers.
"I don't have any progress to report to you," Rubio said. "You have a number of countries that continue to engage them with different ideas. But I wouldn't say we're on the verge of a breakthrough."
"Not Realistic"
Rubio said President Donald Trump still prefers to end the conflict through diplomacy if an acceptable deal is possible. "The President would always prefer to solve this and every problem diplomatically," he said. "Sometimes that's not possible, unfortunately."
READ MORE: Rubio Says Trump Prefers Peace With Iran as U.S. Carries Out New Strikes
He put the blame for the stalled talks squarely on Tehran. "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," Rubio said.
His comments were notably cooler than Trump's own remarks on Friday. "We're dealing with them now," Trump said then. "They want to make a deal. We've made a lot of progress with Iran."
Qatar in the Middle
Qatar has become the main go-between in the indirect talks, carrying proposals between the two governments on Iran's nuclear program, the Strait of Hormuz, frozen Iranian assets and the wider conflict.
Trump is scheduled to meet Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani at the White House on Monday. Vice President JD Vance is also expected to meet with him.
One proposed framework would have the U.S. lift its naval blockade and release some frozen Iranian funds. Iran would then let International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors into nuclear sites damaged in the conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Later talks would deal with Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium and a broader nuclear deal.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Sunday that Tehran was still waiting for Washington's answer to its latest offer. "American voters have made their choice. Time for the White House to make its own," he wrote.
READ MORE: Rubio ‘Kicks Out’ Iranian Diplomats After Peace Talks Go Nowhere Again
"Our 2-day proposal stands: meet the requirements, including end to war on all fronts, and you will see results. Or choose war, and see our alert and battle-hardened Warriors rain down hell," Araghchi added.
Pressure Continues
Trump has kept up military pressure while leaving the door open to talks. U.S. forces carried out limited strikes on Iranian military targets on Qeshm Island before and after Tuesday's midterm elections, an operation Trump called "minor," saying American forces destroyed an Iranian air-defense system.
Asked Sunday whether he expected to resume attacks, Trump said it depended on whether Iran agreed to a strong settlement. "The answer is: Highly unlikely it's going to be necessary," he said.
Rubio stressed that Washington keeps its military options open if Iran threatens American troops or commercial shipping. The administration has consistently said Iran cannot be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon, while Tehran insists its program is peaceful and is demanding sanctions relief and access to its frozen assets.