Rubio Says Iran Deal Could Happen On Monday, But Tehran Says Nothing Is ‘Imminent’

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said a deal between the U.S. and Iran could take place on Monday, but Tehran cautioned that “no one can claim” that progress made “means an imminent agreement is about to be signed.”

Speaking to reporters as he geared up to leave India following an official visit, Rubio said the Trump administration “thought we might have some news last night, maybe today” but said he “wouldn’t read too much into it.”

“We have what I think is a pretty solid thing on the table in terms of their ability to open up the straits, get the straits open,” Rubio added. “It has a lot of support in the Gulf. … Every country that we’ve walked through it (with) understands it’s not just very reasonable, but it’s the right thing for the world to get done.”

He went on to express confidence that the first stage of the deal, which would see the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for the U.S. lifting its blockade and providing some financial relief to Tehran, will create the conditions for a comprehensive nuclear deal. However, he also cautioned that if a satisfactory agreement is not reached, the Trump administration will deal with the country in “another way.”

Should it be signed, the deal in question would give both sides 60 days to reach a full deal that includes the nuclear issue, which nonetheless remains thorny. President Donald Trump has vowed to not let Iran get close to having a nuclear weapon, while Tehran has defended its right to enrich uranium and has not signaled willingness to give up its stockpile.

Trump voiced confidence in the potential deal, saying that if he makes one, it will be a “good and proper one, not like the one made by Obama, which gave Iran massive amounts of CASH, and a clear and open path to a Nuclear Weapon.”

“Our deal is the exact opposite, but nobody has seen it, or knows what it is. It isn’t even fully negotiated yet. So don’t listen to the losers, who are critical about something they know nothing about. Unlike those before me who should have solved this problem many years ago, I don’t make bad deals!” Trump added.

As for the ongoing negotiations, Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said “it’s rue that we have reached conclusions on many issues under discussion, but no one can claim that this means an imminent agreement is about to be signed.”