United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio has ruled out any immediate sanctions relief for Iran, insisting that Tehran must first reopen the Strait of Hormuz and commit to specific conditions relating to its nuclear programme before any concessions can be considered.
Speaking before senators on Tuesday, Rubio said the reopening of the strategic waterway was a non-negotiable first step in any future engagement with Iran. “Iran has to announce very clearly that the Strait of Hormuz is open now,” Rubio said, stressing that sanctions relief would be strictly “conditions-based” rather than granted as a goodwill gesture.
The Secretary of State also said Tehran must agree to concrete negotiations over the future of its highly enriched uranium stockpiles, a long-standing point of contention in efforts to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions. According to Rubio, Iranian officials have recently shown a willingness to discuss aspects of their nuclear programme that they had previously refused to place on the negotiating table.
However, he cautioned that such developments do not guarantee a breakthrough or a negotiated end to the conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran. Rubio defended Washington’s hardline approach, arguing that Iran had sought to build a powerful conventional military capability to protect and advance its nuclear programme.
“What they tried to do is they were going to build a conventional shield and hide behind that conventional shield,” he told lawmakers, explaining the rationale behind President Donald Trump’s decision to authorise military action. The comments come amid heightened tensions across the Middle East and growing international concern over the security of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy and shipping corridor through which a significant share of the world’s oil and gas supplies passes.
Rubio’s appearance before the Senate was briefly disrupted by protesters who chanted “stop killing Cubans” as he entered the briefing room, highlighting broader criticism of US foreign policy even as attention remains focused on the escalating standoff with Iran.