US Secretary of State outlines consequences if Iran fails to reach deal
Photo: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (Getty Images)
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio tells Fox News that sanctions pressure on Iran could be ramped up if no agreement is reached.
When asked about possible next steps in the event that the negotiations fail, Rubio emphasizes that the final decision rests with US President Donald Trump.
"That’s the President's decision to make… the level of sanctions on Iran are extraordinary, the level of pressure on Iran is extraordinary, and I think more can be brought to bear," he says.
US-Iran talks
Following the first round of negotiations between the US and Iran, which took place with Pakistan’s mediation, the parties failed to reach an agreement on ending the war.
According to US Vice President JD Vance, Tehran is not currently ready to abandon its nuclear program.
The second round of talks was scheduled for the weekend in Islamabad, but on April 25, US President Donald Trump canceled the trip of Special Representative Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, to Pakistan.
He explained that there was no point in the American delegation flying 18 hours since the US holds all the cards in negotiations with Iran.
Despite the absence of an official meeting, media reports indicate that the US and Iran are continuing informal contacts.
According to these reports, the parties may be closer to a potential agreement than it appears, although the risk of the process breaking down and the conflict reigniting remains.
Earlier, Axios reported that Iran had presented the US with a new proposal to end the war.
It calls for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz (including the lifting of the US blockade), while Tehran proposes postponing nuclear negotiations to a later stage.
