Iran: According to Rubio, agreement possible on Monday

The strait is essential for global energy supplies. The agreement receives “a lot of support” from the Gulf region because all affected states see that it is “very sensible” and should be implemented, Rubio said on Monday during a visit to India’s capital New Delhi.

Israel’s right to self-defense

The US chief diplomat made it clear that Israel “always has the right” to “protect itself.” So if the pro-Iranian Hezbollah militia in Lebanon fires or threatens to fire rockets at Israel, Israel has “every right to respond,” Rubio told reporters before traveling to Agra in northern India.

Regarding Israel’s demand that a peace agreement must prevent Iran from building nuclear bombs, the US Secretary of State said he was counting on Tehran to be ready for “very real, meaningful, time-limited negotiations on the nuclear issue.” US President Donald Trump is “not in a hurry” to negotiate with Iran and will not make “a bad deal”.

Tehran’s view of the negotiations

During the talks, Iran said it reached agreement with the USA on many points. However, this does not mean that Tehran is close to signing an agreement, Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said on Monday.

The leadership in Tehran is said to have agreed to the opening of the Strait of Hormuz and the release of highly enriched uranium. In return, the USA should end its naval blockade. Iranian supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei essentially agreed to these framework conditions, US circles said. The draft provides for a period of 60 days for a final agreement.

Iran says it will only negotiate its nuclear program after a framework agreement has been concluded. This is referred to by the negotiators as a memorandum of understanding and should consist of 14 points. “This 14-point agreement focuses on ending the war, and if this agreement is reached, discussions on issues related to the nuclear program will also be held within a period of 60 days,” Baghaei added.

Trump dampened hopes of a timely agreement

The USA and Israel began the Iran War at the end of February with attacks on the Islamic Republic. Iran subsequently blocked the Strait of Hormuz, causing oil and fuel prices to skyrocket worldwide.

A fragile ceasefire has been in effect in the Iran war since the beginning of April. Trump said on Saturday that an agreement with Iran to end the war was “largely negotiated” but had yet to be finalized. On Sunday, however, Trump dampened hopes by ruling out a “hasty agreement” with Tehran.