Rubio Expects Iran Nuclear Deal Response Friday

CNBC reported Friday that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is pressing Iran for an answer on Washington’s war-ending proposal before the day is out. Speaking to reporters in Rome, Rubio said the administration expects a formal reply imminently on the Iran peace deal framework.

Rubio Speaks From Rome as Deadline Nears

Rubio made the remarks on the sidelines of a papal visit to the Italian capital. He framed the moment as a potential turning point, saying the hope was for a response that could move both sides into a genuine negotiating process. The secretary stopped short of saying what consequences a non-response would carry.

Iranian state media had signaled Thursday that Tehran was reviewing messages delivered through Pakistani intermediaries. Officials in Tehran said no conclusion had been reached and no formal reply had been sent. The use of Pakistan as a back-channel highlights how strained direct communication between Washington and Tehran remains.

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A Ceasefire Under Strain

The diplomatic push is unfolding against a backdrop of live military friction. Both the U.S. and Iran have exchanged fire in the Strait of Hormuz, each blaming the other for starting the confrontations. President Donald Trump addressed the incidents Thursday, acknowledging the strikes but downplaying their severity in unusually casual terms.

Rubio took a harder line Friday. He said overnight reporting suggested Iran was attempting to establish an agency to regulate traffic through the strait. He called that prospect flatly unacceptable, warning it would constitute a serious escalation. The Strait of Hormuz handles roughly a fifth of global oil supply, making any disruption there a direct concern for energy markets worldwide.

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Why the Stakes Are This High

The broader conflict has drawn sustained attention from commodity traders and foreign-policy watchers alike. Any Iranian move to restrict or supervise Hormuz transit would threaten tanker routes serving Gulf producers. Previous episodes of Hormuz tension, including the 2019 tanker seizures, sent Brent crude sharply higher within days.

A credible peace framework, by contrast, could ease the geopolitical risk premium that has kept energy markets volatile. Rubio’s public deadline-setting appears designed to create momentum, or at minimum to document Iran’s posture for a watching international audience.

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