U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who was visiting India, said in New Delhi on the 23rd that Iran could have accepted a peace agreement as early as that day, bringing an end to the Middle East war that has been raging since the end of February.
Rubio traveled to India after the NATO foreign ministers’ meeting in Sweden. He said on the 23rd, “It is possible that we can have important announcements, whether it is later today, tomorrow (the 24th), or in a few days.”
Regarding the negotiations between the US and Iran, Rubio said twice that “some progress has been made”; he also said, “As I speak to you (the media) right now, some progress is also being made.” Rubio indicated that he hoped for “good news,” which might or might not come on the 23rd. Rubio reiterated that the United States demands Iran fully open the Strait of Hormuz and hand over its highly enriched uranium. Rubio emphasized that US President Trump “has always preferred” to resolve issues through diplomatic means such as negotiation, and “that’s what we’re working on right now.”
In addition, Pakistan, the main mediator in the US-Iran negotiations, sent its Army Chief of Staff Munir, whom Trump greatly admires, to Tehran to meet with Iranian Parliament Speaker Ghalibaf, Foreign Minister Arachne, and President Pezeszczuk. Munir left Tehran on the 23rd. Reuters reported on the 23rd, citing Pakistani military sources, that negotiations had reached a final understanding between the US and Iran in the past 24 hours, achieving “encouraging and inspiring” progress.