Marco Rubio says ‘significant progress’ made in US-Iran talks to end war

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio says “significant progress” has been made in talks to end the US-Israeli war on Iran, hours after President Donald Trump claimed that a memorandum of understanding to end the fighting was “largely negotiated”.

Rubio, who is on his first official visit to India, said on Sunday that the emerging deal would address Trump’s concerns about the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has largely blocked since the US and Israel launched their war on February 28.

“Some progress has been made, significant progress, although not final progress has been made,” Rubio told reporters in New Delhi.

“I do think perhaps there is the possibility that in the next few hours the world will get some good news,” he said.

The agreement would also start a “process that can ultimately leave us where the president wants us to be, and that is a world that no longer has to fear or worry about an Iranian nuclear weapon”, Rubio added.

Iran’s semiofficial Tasnim News Agency, which is close to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), said that under a potential memorandum of understanding, the number of vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz would return to pre-war levels within weeks.

“If the agreement is reached, the Strait of Hormuz will not fully return to its pre-war status; instead, the number of ships allowed to pass would be restored to pre-war levels within 30 days,” Tasnim reported.

The US ⁠naval blockade on Iranian ports must ⁠be completely lifted within 30 days, according ⁠to the potential memorandum ⁠of understanding, Tasnim ⁠said, adding that part of Iran’s frozen funds ‌must be released in the first phase of the agreement.

The potential deal also includes an end to the war on all fronts, including in Lebanon, Tasnim reported.

The measures on the Strait of Hormuz would take effect over a 30-day period while negotiations over Iran’s nuclear programme would continue over a 60-day period after the potential agreement is signed, Tasnim said.

After the initial 30-day period, “the parties will have 30 days to agree on the nuclear issue. These 30 days can be extended by mutual agreement,” Al Jazeera’s Ali Hashem said. “During [the initial 30-day period], passage will be facilitated through the strait. According to Iran, management of the Strait of Hormuz will be an Iranian-Omani issue and is being negotiated with Muscat.”

Iran emphasised that any potential agreement with the US is conditional on the release of at least part of Iran’s frozen funds, which must be released in the first phase of negotiations, Tasnim reported.

“In addition to many other elements of the Agreement, the Strait of Hormuz will be opened,” Trump said on his Truth Social platform. Such a development would lift pressure on global energy prices after the crucial passageway for oil shipments has been virtually shut down since the war began with .