Marco Rubio just declared the Strait of Hormuz “has to be open” — and he’s not mincing words about it.
The Secretary of State, speaking during a visit to India, called the closure “unlawful, illegal, unsustainable for the world, and unacceptable.” But here’s the kicker: while Rubio’s been talking diplomacy, U.S. Central Command just announced American forces carried out what it described as “self-defense strikes” in southern Iran targeting missile facilities and Iranian vessels allegedly involved in placing naval mines near key maritime routes.
We’ve learned that U.S. and Iranian representatives are engaged in discussions in Qatar, with negotiators working through the language of a preliminary agreement. Rubio confirmed that President Donald Trump’s position remains unchanged: the United States wants “a good deal or no deal,” while acknowledging that completing the final document could require additional time.
Capt. Tim Hawkins said the operation near the Iranian naval hub of Bandar Abbas was designed to protect American personnel and assets while maintaining the broader cease-fire framework. A senior defense official revealed that U.S. aircraft and naval forces operating near the Gulf of Oman and Arabian Sea had faced threats from Iranian surface-to-air missile systems.
Despite the military escalation, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said Tehran and Washington had reached areas of understanding on several issues but warned that a final agreement hadn’t yet been achieved. He also accused the United States of shifting its positions during the negotiations.
Trump said any future agreement with Iran would be “good and proper,” while continuing to criticize the 2015 nuclear deal negotiated during the Obama administration. According to a senior U.S. administration official, negotiators have made progress on a proposed framework that would require Iran to eliminate its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and accept major limits on future uranium enrichment activities.
In return, the United States would reportedly end its naval blockade and begin a phased reduction of economic sanctions. Officials said the major political issues have largely been resolved in principle, but technical details, verification procedures, and enforcement measures remain under discussion. So we’re talking simultaneous warfare and dealmaking — very on-brand for this administration.
