Rubio: An Alternative Plan Must Be Established if Iran Refuses to Reopen the Strait of Hormuz

SadaNews - While Pakistani efforts continue to bridge the views between Washington and Tehran, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that everyone wants to reach an agreement with Iran, while emphasizing the necessity of having an "alternative plan" in case Tehran refuses to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Rubio stated during a press conference while participating in a NATO foreign ministers meeting in Helsingborg, Sweden, that Washington seeks to reach an understanding with Tehran, adding that there has been some progress in the talks with Iran, but he pointed out that a final outcome has not yet been reached.

He also continued, "We want Iran to abandon its nuclear ambitions," noting that the United States does not want the conflict in the Middle East to escalate.

Pakistan: The Main Mediator

Rubio clarified that Pakistan is the main mediator in the talks with Iran, stating, "We are coordinating with several countries regarding Iran, but Islamabad is the primary mediator in the discussions."

Additionally, the U.S. Secretary mentioned that there has been no specific request for NATO assistance regarding the Strait of Hormuz, adding, "We are continuously reassessing our military presence in Europe."

Rubio's remarks come as the Pakistani army chief Asim Munir is heading to Tehran today, according to Iran's IRNA news agency.

“Good Indicators”

The U.S. Secretary expressed cautious optimism on Thursday regarding diplomatic efforts to end the war with Iran, stating before departing to attend a NATO meeting in Sweden that there are "good indicators."

He also confirmed that U.S. President Donald Trump prefers a negotiated settlement.

This week, Tehran presented a new proposal to the United States, but what it publicly stated about its content was a reiteration of terms previously rejected by President Donald Trump, including control over the Strait of Hormuz, compensation for war damages, lifting all U.S. sanctions, and the release of all frozen Iranian assets and funds abroad.

Meanwhile, the Pakistani mediator delivered the U.S. response to this proposal to Tehran a few days ago, which announced yesterday that it is studying the response.