US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed hope that a deal with Iran on the Strait of Hormuz could be reached 'very shortly,' as officials indicated progress has been made in the negotiations.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated Tuesday afternoon that he expects a deal with Iran on the Strait of Hormuz to be reached "very shortly," as the administration intensified its push for a diplomatic resolution to the months-long maritime standoff. Rubio's latest remarks, reported by i24NEWS and Israeli media, came after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told CNBC earlier on Tuesday that an agreement could be signed as early as Wednesday. The Zioneer first reported on the breakthrough signals at 16:54 Jerusalem Tuesday, when Bessent's interview and subsequent reports from Arab media indicated an Iranian statement was expected within hours. Within the same hour, multiple outlets — including N12's Amit Segal and i24NEWS — cited Rubio confirming progress in talks mediated through Oman, while cautioning that nothing was final. The thread shows a rapid escalation of official optimism, culminating in Rubio's framing of the deal as imminent.
The Zioneer has previously reported on the administration's months-long efforts to secure a framework agreement with Tehran. As detailed in earlier coverage, the proposed deal envisions Iran reopening the strategic waterway to commercial traffic without imposing tolls, in exchange for the U.S. Navy lifting its blockade of Iranian maritime infrastructure. The negotiations have also been linked to broader nuclear talks, with President Trump earlier asserting that a final nuclear agreement was near.
No specific terms of the potential deal have been disclosed in the latest statements. The deal has not yet been signed, and an Iranian statement has not materialized as of early Wednesday morning. It remains unclear whether the agreement will address related issues such as Iran's nuclear program or its support for Hezbollah, which Rubio previously indicated would be necessary for the arrangement to hold.
7 developments
- DevelopingU.S., Iran, and Oman advance in Hormuz talks, unconfirmed report says
- StrongTrump: US and Iran close to 60-day ceasefire deal, Strait of Hormuz to reopen
- StrongUS, Iran, Oman reportedly close to 60-day Strait of Hormuz reopening deal
- ConfirmedU.S. and Iran reportedly near agreement on nuclear freeze, sanctions relief, and Strait of Hormuz reopening
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