Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Friday that indirect diplomatic efforts aimed at easing tensions between the United States, Israel, and Iran have shown modest progress, though he cautioned that significant challenges remain.
Speaking to reporters, Rubio described recent developments as “encouraging” but emphasized that he was not prepared to predict a breakthrough. He said there had been “a little bit of movement” in ongoing discussions while warning against excessive optimism.
According to reports, Pakistan has continued to facilitate communications between Washington and Tehran. Syed Asim Munir is expected to hold consultations with Iranian officials as part of broader diplomatic efforts.
Rubio reiterated the U.S. position opposing any Iranian proposal to impose fees or authorization requirements on commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. He argued that restricting access to the vital maritime route would violate international law, threaten global commerce, and severely complicate diplomatic negotiations.
The Strait of Hormuz carries a significant share of the world’s oil exports, making any disruption a major concern for international energy markets. Rubio warned that if Iran continues pursuing measures that interfere with maritime transit, Washington and its allies may need to consider alternative responses.
Regional tensions also remain elevated. Fighting involving Israel and the Iran-backed organization Hezbollah has continued despite previous ceasefire efforts, while the European Union announced plans to expand sanctions targeting individuals and entities connected to any disruption of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
Meanwhile, Bret Baier said that President Donald Trump expressed cautious optimism about the possibility of reaching an agreement with Iran within the coming week, although uncertainty remains as diplomatic negotiations continue.
