U.S. Secretary of State Declares End to Iran War, Sets Tough Negotiation Terms

Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Tuesday that the ongoing conflict with Iran is “over” and detailed what he described as non-negotiable terms for a potential agreement currently being discussed with Tehran. Key conditions include the complete reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, the transfer of Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile, and strict long-term limits on the country’s nuclear program before any sanctions relief can be approved.

In his first testimony to Congress since the launch of Operation Epic Fury in February, Rubio asserted that the Trump administration’s combination of military and economic pressure had considerably weakened Iran, pushing the country to negotiate aspects of its nuclear approach that it had previously ignored.

“We have a vision ahead of us,” Rubio remarked to lawmakers, reflecting on the ongoing talks between the U.S. and Iran. “It could happen today, tomorrow, next week. For the first time in my memory, they’ve agreed to talks on parts of their nuclear program that they wouldn’t even mention a month ago, or a year ago.”

He explained that current discussions center on ensuring the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz while committing to future conversations about Iran’s nuclear capabilities and uranium stocks. He clarified that the administration wouldn’t provide any sanctions relief upfront in exchange for reopening the vital waterway.

“Iran has to clearly state that the strait is open. We won’t charge tolls. We’ll assist with clearing mines they’ve laid and we will not engage ships,” Rubio stated. He emphasized that Iran must also agree to tough, long-term restrictions and halt enrichment activities.

Rubio made it clear that sanctions relief would only be considered once Iran demonstrates verifiable actions regarding its nuclear operations, marking a significant shift from the previous administration’s approach under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). “That’s not the JCPOA,” he told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, alluding to the previous deal which was set to expire this year.

He pointed out that Iran has enriched close to 1,000 pounds of uranium to a purity of 60%, dangerously close to weapons-grade levels, and noted that any future agreement would need to tackle both Iran’s enrichment capabilities and its high-purity uranium reserves. “We will have to address that,” Rubio remarked, referring to Iran’s capacity for enrichment and current stockpile.

Rubio also discussed the complexities of negotiations caused by Iran’s fragmented leadership. He explained that responses can take days due to the regime’s internal communication issues. “Unfortunately, their internal systems seem to be quite broken… It takes a while to get a response.”

He suggested that there are indications that Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is increasingly involved in the talks, though primarily through written communication and intermediaries. “I think there are signs he’s becoming more and more engaged,” Rubio noted.

This declaration surfaced as President Trump denied reports from Iranian media suggesting that negotiations had stalled because of Israel’s renewed military actions against the Iranian-supported group Hezbollah. Trump stated, “Fake news reports that the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States stopped speaking are false,” asserting that discussions have been ongoing consistently.

Meanwhile, Rubio expressed optimism about reaching a broader agreement, saying, “We’re hopeful that something like the reopening of the Straits could happen. We’re entering a phase of defined negotiations on specific topics.” He also claimed that Operation Epic Fury, along with U.S. and Israeli pressures, have severely weakened Iran’s military capabilities.

He confidently remarked, “There is no Iranian navy. They have some small boats, but no real navy,” and pointed out that Iran faces a deteriorating economy plagued by hyperinflation and currency collapse. “Iran is in a dire situation,” Rubio stated during his exchange with Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.), emphasizing the struggles the Iranian government faces.

Rubio dismissed accusations that the administration was “begging” Iran for a deal, saying, “Nobody begs for anything here. The Iranian government might be the one begging since they’re losing millions each day.” He also argued that U.S. military operations have stripped Iran of the traditional defenses it had to protect its nuclear ambitions, which he described as critically threatening if they had continued unchecked.

“If that doesn’t work out, we’ll still have to deal with their nuclear goals, but they won’t have a conventional shield for cover,” he said.