US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said Washington is receiving indications through multiple channels that Iran wants to negotiate, even as divisions within the country’s leadership appear to be widening.
Speaking to CNN, Rubio said, “We are receiving signals through multiple channels of Iran’s desire to negotiate, but there is a growing split within the regime.”
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The remarks come as the US and Iran continue to exchange military strikes, with Washington saying its operations are aimed at degrading Iran’s military capabilities, particularly those linked to attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
Earlier, Rubio said Iran is using the Strait of Hormuz as leverage in the regional conflict and called on other countries to do more to protect global shipping.
Speaking to reporters before travelling to the Philippines, Rubio said the United States would continue taking measures to safeguard maritime traffic but argued that other governments should contribute equipment or funding to help share the burden.
Ninth Consecutive Night Of Strikes
The latest wave of attacks marked the ninth straight night of US strikes, as Iranian media reported explosions along the country’s southern coast and, for the first time in the current campaign, in the northwestern city of Tabriz, indicating the offensive may be widening geographically.
US president Donald Trump said the latest attacks honoured “probably three great patriots” killed in the conflict, describing them as soldiers who had fought to ensure “Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon.”
After returning to Washington following the World Cup final, Trump said, “We hit them very hard again tonight.”
Despite the escalating conflict, Rubio said the United States remained open to diplomacy, underscoring the administration’s view that military operations and negotiations can continue simultaneously.
