Washington: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said there is “no chance” of ending the ongoing war with Iran without an agreement that addresses Tehran’s nuclear programme.
According to the report, the conflict began on February 28, when the United States and Israel launched military action against Iran. Peace talks mediated by Pakistan were held on April 11 and ran for about 21 hours, but ended without an agreement. A second round planned for last weekend did not take place as both sides stayed away.
Iran later sent a 10-point proposal to the US through Pakistan. In it, Tehran said it would agree to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz if the US lifted the blockade on Iran. However, Iran also sought to postpone discussions on its nuclear programme, suggesting the issue be taken up later.
Washington rejected that approach. President Donald Trump criticised Iran for negotiating in bad faith and attempting to avoid the nuclear issue. Rubio said the nuclear question is at the core of the conflict and cannot be set aside, adding that as long as Iran’s hardline religious leadership remains in power, it would seek nuclear weapons.
The report noted that a US naval blockade has severely affected Iran’s oil exports, and Iran’s proposal is seen as an attempt to escape that pressure. With both sides holding firm positions, the conflict is expected to continue for some time.
