Rubio says U.S.-Iran talks show 'some progress,' but two sides are 'not there yet'

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday took note of “some progress” in peace negotiations with Iran but said the two sides are “not there yet,” as Pakistan's top military officer was in Tehran for a mediation effort to help end the Middle East conflict.

Rubio made the remarks during a meeting with reporters after attending a NATO ministerial meeting in Helsingborg, Sweden, as Pakistani Field Marshal Asim Munir reportedly touched down in Tehran for talks with top Iranian officials.

“There's been some progress. I wouldn't exaggerate it. I wouldn't diminish it,” he said, according to a transcript released by the U.S. State Department.

“There's more work to be done, but [...] there's been some, and that's a good sign. [...] We're not there yet. I hope we get there. The president would prefer to do a good deal,” he added.

He did not elaborate on what progress Washington and Tehran have made. 

The secretary pointed out that the issue of Iran's highly enriched uranium should be addressed as part of a peace deal with Iran.

“Iran can never have a nuclear weapon. The issue of highly enriched uranium has to be [...] its disposition, [which] has to be dealt with, and, of course, the issue of future enrichment has to be dealt with as well,” Rubio said.

“Those are the core pillars of any sort of agreement [...] in addition to opening the straits,” he added, referring to the Strait of Hormuz, which has effectively been choked off amid the Iran war.

Washington has been pressuring Tehran to reach a peace deal with it as it seeks to end the hostilities and restore safe shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for shipments of oil, natural gas, fertilizer and other commodities.

On Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a decision to hold off on an attack on Iran, planned for Tuesday, warning that the United States could go ahead with a “full, large-scale” assault on the Islamic Republic if a deal — acceptable to the United States and countries in the Middle East — is not reached.

Yonhap