U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has indicated that diplomatic contacts involving the United States, Israel, and Iran have made limited progress, but he cautioned that the situation remains delicate and far from a major breakthrough.
According to Rubio, recent developments should not be interpreted as a sign that key disputes have been resolved. He emphasized that negotiations are still in an early stage and that the window for achieving meaningful progress may be narrowing.
Part of the ongoing diplomacy reportedly relies on back-channel discussions, with Pakistan serving as an intermediary to help maintain communication between Washington and Tehran during a period of heightened regional tensions.
Reports also suggest that Pakistan’s Army Chief, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, could travel to Tehran for high-level meetings aimed at keeping diplomatic channels open and reducing the risk of further escalation.
Despite these efforts, significant disagreements remain. One of the main points of contention is Iran’s reported proposal for a “tolling system” in the Strait of Hormuz, which would require vessels to pay fees for passing through the strategic waterway.
U.S. officials have firmly rejected the proposal, arguing that it would violate international maritime principles and could disrupt global energy markets. Rubio described the idea as unacceptable, making clear that Washington’s position on the issue has not changed.
While diplomatic communication continues, major obstacles remain unresolved, leaving the future of the talks uncertain and the overall situation highly sensitive.