U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said negotiations with Iran were not approaching a breakthrough, raising fresh doubts about the diplomatic track.
Speaking to reporters before leaving for Paris for the G-7 summit, Rubio said Washington remains willing to pursue negotiations, but the process remains unproductive. He characterized Tehran's demands as "outrageous and ridiculous," saying they were unrealistic from the U.S. perspective.
The Secretary of State said stopping Iran from developing nuclear weapons should remain a bipartisan priority. He also acknowledged that President Donald Trump would prefer resolving the dispute through diplomacy, but "that's not possible, unfortunately."
G7 foreign ministers are scheduled to meet Monday and Tuesday in Paris, where the conflict involving Iran is expected to feature prominently. Rubio also said the U.S. would respond defensively to clear threats against American troops or regional shipping.
Rubio Defends Trump, Warren Questions Exit Strategy
The latest comments follow Rubio's defense of Trump's Iran policy, when he rejected reports that he might leave the administration. Rubio acknowledged that higher gasoline prices could create political challenges while saying Trump deserved a "tremendous amount of credit" for taking necessary action.
Trump's position, meanwhile, remained the same. He said renewed U.S. strikes against Iran were "highly unlikely" if negotiations over Tehran's nuclear program and the Strait of Hormuz make progress. He claimed Iran is facing growing economic pressure from inflation, U.S. military strikes and sanctions, adding that Tehran desperately wants a deal.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) said public pressure to end the Iran war is growing, with Democrats planning to use congressional tools to push the Trump administration toward ending the conflict. She called the war illegal, criticized the administration for lacking clear objectives or an exit strategy, and said Democrats have several options to apply pressure.
