Rubio Hints At ‘Plan B’ In Iran Despite New Developments

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Friday that back-channel talks aimed at ending the U.S.-Israel war with Iran have shown “a little bit of movement,” though he cautioned that the diplomatic window will not remain open indefinitely.

“The latest signs are encouraging, but I’m not popping champagne yet,” Rubio said Friday.

“I don’t want to exaggerate it, but there’s been a little bit of movement, and that’s good,” he said, while stressing he doesn’t “want to be overly optimistic.”

The Trump administration is keeping diplomatic channels open while making clear that Washington has other options if Tehran refuses to back down. Behind the scenes, Pakistan is again playing a key intermediary role.

As Islamabad works to keep discussions alive, Pakistan’s Army Chief Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, identified by security sources as a major go-between for Washington and Tehran, is traveling to Tehran for consultations with Iranian officials.

Rubio’s cautious tone came with an unmistakable warning: Iran’s attempt to impose what it calls a “tolling system” in the Strait of Hormuz is unacceptable.

Rubio called the proposal a nonstarter, warning that it would complicate diplomacy and create consequences far beyond the Middle East.

“No one in the world is in favor of the tolling system,” Rubio said. “It can’t happen. It would be unacceptable.”

“⁠It would make ⁠a diplomatic deal unfeasible if they were to continue ‌to pursue that. So it’s a threat to the world if they were ‌trying to do that, and it’s completely illegal,” Rubio added.

The Strait of Hormuz remains the central pressure point. The narrow waterway carries nearly a fifth of global oil exports, making it one of the most strategically important maritime routes in the world. Disruptions have already unsettled governments and markets, slowing shipments and increasing costs.

Iran claims ownership over the strait and says it will only fully reopen the route if commercial vessels agree to pay for passage.

“If Tehran refuses to reopen the route, the US and its partners can’t just sit around and hope for the best,” Rubio added. “If Iran keeps digging in, Washington has to have a Plan B,” he warned.

The broader region remains tense. Lebanon’s health ministry said Friday that Israeli strikes have killed more than 3,100 people in Lebanon since March 2, as fighting with Iran-backed Hezbollah has continued despite a U.S.-brokered ceasefire imposed in mid-April.

Lebanon and Israel have held discussions in Washington, with another round expected in June. Hezbollah, however, has rejected the truce and opposed the meetings, underscoring the continued danger posed by Iranian-backed proxy forces across the region.

The European Union also moved Friday to broaden its sanctions framework against Iran, targeting those behind the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The EU declared the blockade “contrary to international law.”

The proposed measures would include travel bans, asset freezes, and restrictions preventing EU citizens and companies from making funds available to designated individuals.

Fox News anchor Bret Baier said President Donald Trump told him he was “cautiously optimistic” about the possibility of reaching a deal with Iran.

“We’re in the middle of this — what the president is looking at on this proposal, this one-pager, this memorandum of understanding, I talked to him today, and there was this sense of optimism, not — I would say cautious optimism that they maybe get to a deal within a week,” Baier said on “America Reports.”

Still, Baier noted that Iran’s latest maritime maneuver could create a serious obstacle.

“However, at the same time, you have the United Nations, Iran has introduced a new mechanism, the Persian Gulf Strait Authority, to regulate maritime transit through the strategic Strait of Hormuz. That’s according to Iranian state media,” Baier added.

“Under the system, vessels intending to pass through the strait will receive guidance from an official email address outlining the rules for transit. Ships are required to comply with the framework and obtain prior authorization before crossing the waterway.’ That doesn’t seem like that’s going to fly,” Baier continued.

For the Trump administration, the message is becoming increasingly clear: diplomacy remains possible, but Tehran will not be allowed to weaponize global shipping, threaten energy markets, or hold the world economy hostage through illegal control of the Strait of Hormuz.