Rubio: Straits will be open “one way or the other”

The US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has stated that negotiations with Iran on a potential deal could take “a few days,” noting that all straits must be open “one way or the other.”

His remarks tempered expectations of a quick resolution, a day after US forces carried out what Washington described as defensive strikes in southern Iran, Caliber.Az reports, citing Reuters.

Rubio said the operations targeted boats allegedly attempting to lay mines, as well as missile launch sites.

“The straits have to be open, they're going to be open one way or the other, so they need to be open,” he told reporters aboard his aircraft while in Jaipur, India.

Despite a ceasefire reportedly in place since early April, US Central Command said on May 26 that it had conducted fresh strikes aimed at protecting American troops from perceived threats posed by Iranian forces.

Iranian media, meanwhile, reported that the country had shot down a “hostile” stealth drone using a newly deployed air defence system, though no further details were provided on its origin or location.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov