ISLAMABAD: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Tuesday that disagreements over the wording of a proposed agreement were slowing progress in negotiations with Iran, despite ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at preserving a fragile ceasefire.
Speaking to reporters during a visit to India, Rubio said talks remained active but cautioned that finalizing an agreement could still take several days as negotiators worked through differences in the draft text.
“I think like anything with something like this, it’s going to take a couple of days, to settle on even down to the disagreements over a word, sentence,” Rubio said. “So we’ll have to work through that.”
The remarks came a day after US forces carried out what Washington described as defensive strikes in southern Iran, even as negotiators met in Doha for another round of discussions focused on ending months of conflict that disrupted regional stability, energy markets and maritime trade through the Strait of Hormuz.
Rubio said the strategically vital waterway “has to be open,” adding: “They’re going to be open one way or the other.”
He described the continued disruption to maritime navigation as “unlawful,” “illegal” and “unsustainable for the world.”
Despite the renewed military tensions, Rubio said diplomatic engagement was continuing.
“There were some talks going on in Qatar today, so we’ll see if we can make progress,” he said, adding that discussions were centered on “specific language in the initial document.”
The negotiations are part of broader mediation efforts involving regional actors, including Pakistan, following a ceasefire that took effect on April 8 after months of confrontation between Iran, the United States and Israel.
