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3. Rubio Says Iran Deal Still Days Away as U.S. Balances Diplomacy and Military Pressure

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Tuesday that reaching an agreement with Iran may still require “a few days.” His remarks came one day after U.S. forces carried out what Washington described as defensive operations in southern Iran.

According to Rubio, the strikes targeted missile launch sites as well as vessels allegedly attempting to deploy naval mines near the Strait of Hormuz. Speaking to reporters aboard his plane in Jaipur, India, he stressed that the strategic waterway must remain operational regardless of the situation on the ground.

“The Strait of Hormuz must remain open — one way or another,” Rubio said, emphasizing Washington’s determination to safeguard maritime navigation in the Gulf.

Despite a ceasefire that has technically remained in effect since early April, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced Monday that it had launched new strikes aimed at “protecting our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces.” The operations reportedly targeted missile launch sites and vessels suspected of attempting to deploy naval mines in southern Iran.

Meanwhile, Iranian state media reported that Tehran had successfully intercepted what it described as a “hostile” stealth drone using a newly developed air defense system. Iranian authorities did not specify the origin of the drone or the location of the incident.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington was still committed to giving diplomacy with Iran “every chance to succeed” before considering dealing with Tehran “another way.” He suggested that negotiations remained active, describing discussions over reopening the Strait of Hormuz and addressing Iran’s nuclear program as a “pretty solid thing on the table.”

Rubio added that talks currently involve “a very real, significant, time-limited negotiation on the nuclear matter,” signaling that the coming days could prove decisive for the broader regional situation.

U.S. President Donald Trump also struck a mixed tone in a lengthy Truth Social post on Monday, saying negotiations with Iran were progressing “nicely” while simultaneously warning Tehran against failure. “It will only be a Great Deal for all, or no Deal at all,” Trump wrote, hinting that military action remained possible should diplomacy collapse.

At the same time, regional tensions continued to rise elsewhere. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Monday that Israel would intensify operations against the Iran-backed Hezbollah group in Lebanon. Shortly afterward, the Israeli military confirmed it had launched strikes targeting Hezbollah infrastructure in Lebanon’s eastern Bekaa Valley and southern Lebanon.