Iran ‘Buying Time’ With New Proposal Amid Nuclear Tensions

28/04/2026

WASHINGTON, April 28: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has dismissed Iran’s latest proposal to delay nuclear negotiations as a strategic attempt to stall for time, warning that Tehran’s long-term ambitions remain unchanged.

Speaking in an interview with Fox News, Rubio said the core issue in any potential agreement with Iran continues to be its pursuit of nuclear weapons capability. His remarks came in response to reports that Tehran had suggested postponing talks on its nuclear program in exchange for easing tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, including reopening the vital shipping route if the United States lifts its blockade.

“There’s no doubt in my mind that at some point, if this radical clerical regime remains in charge in Iran, they will decide they want a nuclear weapon,” Rubio said, underscoring what he described as a persistent and fundamental threat.

He further warned that Iranian negotiators are highly experienced and likely using diplomatic overtures to gain time rather than reach a meaningful resolution. “That fundamental issue still has to be confronted,” he added, emphasizing that Washington must remain focused on preventing Iran from advancing toward nuclear capability.

Rubio stressed that any future agreement must include strict guarantees to ensure Iran cannot rapidly develop a nuclear weapon under any circumstances. “We can’t let them get away with it,” he said, adding that a credible deal must “definitively prevent them from sprinting towards a nuclear weapon at any point.”

The comments highlight growing skepticism in Washington over Tehran’s intentions, as tensions continue to simmer over nuclear negotiations and regional security, particularly around the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz, a key artery for global oil shipments.