U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio saw Iran talks heading toward progress on an agreement on safe passage through key Middle Eastern waterways, expressing optimism that a deal could be reached “very shortly.”
He was talking to reporters at the State Department, following President Donald Trump’s remarks this week that a deal looked imminent on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a vital trade route that has seen disruptions in energy shipping over the past one month as the U.S. and Iran engaged in tit-for-tat strikes.
Rubio confirmed that diplomacy is moving forward.
“There’s been progress made in those talks, but not finality yet,” Rubio said. “We’re hoping that will happen very shortly.”
🚨 SEC. MARCO RUBIO JUST NOW: “There are ships moving through the straits. There’s oil moving right NOW through the straits. The straits are open!”
“The denuclearization of Iran is the ultimate deal. The immediate deal, the one that you see a lot of focus on, is the straits.”… pic.twitter.com/DKEFhQCZtK
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) August 4, 2026
While noting that some commercial vessels have continued to transit despite maritime blockades and security threats, Rubio highlighted ongoing tri-party diplomatic efforts involving regional mediators.
“There’s a conversation and a negotiation that we are involved in between Oman and Iran on how more ships can be able to go through there safely in the short term,” Rubio explained.
Rubio added that oil shipments continue to navigate the regional choke points. “There’s oil moving right now through the straits. So, the straits are open,” he said, referencing both the Strait of Hormuz—the vital mouth of the Persian Gulf—and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden.
Trump Says New Talks Are ‘Last Chance’ for Iran https://t.co/dtxyOM5zeB via @ViewsNewsNow
— Views&News (@ViewsNewsMag) August 4, 2026
Earlier on Tuesday, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent echoed a similar timeline, telling CNBC that an agreement with Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz could be finalized as early as Tuesday or Wednesday, potentially stabilizing global energy markets.
While acknowledging that interim shipping guarantees are receiving primary attention, Rubio emphasized that Washington’s ultimate diplomatic priority regarding Tehran remains broad denuclearization.
“There’s a big deal, which is the one that has to do with their nuclear ambitions,” Rubio said. “The denuclearization of Iran is the ultimate deal.”
Muhammad Luqman is Associate Editor at Views News Now. He writes on wide-ranging issues including economy, South Asia, the Middle East, agriculture, economy and innovation. Luqman has worked some of the leading news organizations and won acclaim for his original and research-based works.
