US-Iran Talks Stalled; Rubio Warns of 'Alternative Methods' if Deal Fails

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on the 25th that if Washington does not reach a good agreement with Tehran, it will 'seek other methods.' Washington is downplaying expectations for an immediate breakthrough in the three-month-old Middle East conflict. President Trump revealed yesterday that he has instructed negotiators not to rush into any Iran deal. Rubio told reporters in New Delhi today that Washington will give diplomacy every chance to succeed before seeking 'alternatives.' According to Reuters, Rubio said, 'In terms of their ability to open the strait, we can enter into practical, significant, and time-bound nuclear negotiations, and I hope we can succeed.' Trump posted on his social media platform, Truth Social, yesterday that the US blockade of Iranian vessels in the Strait of Hormuz 'will remain in full effect until a deal is reached, verified, and signed.' Tehran has not yet responded. However, the Tasnim news agency, linked to the elite Iranian Revolutionary Guards, stated that the US is still obstructing parts of a potential deal, including Tehran's request to unfreeze assets. As optimism for a peace deal between the US and Iran grew, international oil prices fell 6% today, hitting a two-week low. Trump said on the 23rd that Washington and Tehran had 'largely agreed' on a memorandum of understanding for a peace deal, raising expectations. The deal would have reopened the Strait of Hormuz. Before the conflict, about one-fifth of global oil and gas shipments passed through this strategic waterway. Currently, the two sides remain divided on several thorny issues, including Iran's nuclear program, the war between Israel and Hezbollah, and Tehran's demand for sanctions relief and the unfreezing of billions of dollars in oil revenue.