U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Sunday that diplomatic efforts to end the conflict with Iran have made little progress, labeling Iran’s demands as unacceptable. Rubio told reporters in Florida before heading to France for a G7 meeting that “Right now, it hasn't been very productive because the Iranian demands are simply not just unacceptable, but in some cases … really not realistic.”
Rubio reiterated that the Trump administration prefers a diplomatic solution to the conflict, but added that a breakthrough looks unlikely. In an earlier interview, President Donald Trump told CNN that large‑scale U.S. military strikes against Iran were “highly unlikely” as long as negotiations made progress, though he did not rule out further military action.
On Saturday, the U.S. Central Command announced the formation of Task Force Iron Gate, a unit of about 20 military and civilian personnel. The task force coordinates efforts across U.S. government agencies to disrupt the movement of advanced weapons and other materials across Iran’s land borders and other routes.
Trump posted on social media that the task force was “in full force and effect” in Iran, and that, coupled with a U.S. naval blockade, “very little gets into, or out of, Iran.”
Stated by the moneycontrol.com report, Iran insists on ending hostilities and lifting sanctions as part of its demands, which Rubio called “outrageous and ridiculous.” Trump remained open to a diplomatic path, according to the same source.”}
