US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that the United States will not accept Iran’s proposal to reopen the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz in exchange for lifting the US naval blockade and ending the ongoing conflict. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has not publicly issued a final response to the offer, although senior officials confirmed that discussions are underway at the highest levels of government.
Rubio made the remarks during a television interview, emphasizing that Iran’s proposal effectively seeks to control access to an international waterway. He argued that any arrangement requiring foreign vessels to coordinate with Iranian authorities or pay fees would undermine global maritime freedom. According to Rubio, the strait must remain open to all nations without restrictions imposed by a single country, particularly one involved in an active regional conflict.
At the same time, Iran has intensified diplomatic engagement. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi traveled to Moscow to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin after concluding a visit to Pakistan over the weekend. Analysts view the trip as part of Tehran’s effort to build international support while negotiations with Washington remain stalled.
Rubio also stated that Iran is currently in a weaker strategic and economic position following joint military operations conducted by the United States and Israel. He pointed to ongoing economic instability, including the sharp decline of Iran’s national currency, the rial, as evidence that sustained pressure has influenced Tehran’s negotiating behavior. With active combat operations temporarily paused, the United States has shifted its focus toward tightening economic restrictions, particularly by blocking key Iranian ports and intercepting vessels suspected of transporting sanctioned oil shipments.
Despite these pressures, Rubio expressed caution about Iran’s diplomatic intentions. He suggested that Tehran may be attempting to secure temporary relief rather than commit to long-term concessions. The Trump administration has repeatedly insisted that any agreement must permanently halt Iran’s nuclear enrichment activities and prevent the country from developing nuclear weapons capabilities in the future.
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Separately, the White House confirmed that President Trump convened his national security and foreign policy advisers to review Iran’s proposal. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said officials are carefully evaluating the potential consequences of accepting or rejecting the offer, noting that the closure of the strait has already triggered significant disruptions in global energy markets.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Ministry strongly criticized recent US maritime operations in the Persian Gulf. Spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei condemned the seizure of vessels suspected of carrying sanctioned Iranian oil, describing the actions as violations of international law and acts of piracy. US authorities, including federal prosecutor Jeanine Pirro, defended the operations, stating that legal warrants authorized the interception of ships.
