U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio criticized Iran's demands as 'outrageous and ridiculous,' indicating that negotiations to resolve the ongoing conflict in the Middle East are at a standstill.
Rubio's remarks came before a G7 foreign ministers' meeting, where he noted that the two sides are significantly apart, especially after Iran proposed to shorten the negotiation timeline from seven days to two. President Trump expressed a preference for a diplomatic solution but acknowledged that it may not be feasible.
Following these developments, energy prices fell, with Brent crude down 0.75% to $97.58 per barrel and U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures down 0.42% to $90.45. Trump also stated that further military strikes are unlikely if negotiations to address Iran's nuclear ambitions and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz progress.
However, Rubio emphasized that current Iranian demands are unrealistic, while Iranian officials insist on lifting U.S. sanctions and ending the war before talks can resume