Secretary of State Marco Rubio said there could be news on Iran within days, giving the crisis a sharper diplomatic clock just as U.S. strike planning remains active behind the scenes.
Ynetnews reported that Rubio, speaking during a diplomatic visit to India, said “there may be news later today” and added that there could be an update “today, tomorrow or in a couple of days.” Rubio said there had been “some progress” and that “some work is being done,” while repeating that Iran will never be allowed to have a nuclear weapon.
The new angle is not just another mediation stop. It is that Washington is now publicly signaling a possible near-term Iran update while keeping military options visibly prepared if Tehran rejects the latest U.S. proposal.
Rubio Puts a Clock on the Talks
Rubio’s comments land after days of Pakistan- and Qatar-linked mediation aimed at getting Iran and the United States to a war-ending formula. The United States is still pushing for nuclear limits and a settlement over the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran’s leverage has disrupted shipping and energy markets.
His wording was careful. Rubio did not announce a deal, and he warned that there may not be news at all. But the phrase matters because it suggests Washington believes the current round is close enough to an answer that officials are preparing to say something soon.
That is a different posture from the broader deadlock coverage earlier this week. Iranian officials have described the remaining gaps as deep, and previous U.S. comments stressed pressure more than timing. Rubio’s latest statement puts the focus on the next 24 to 72 hours.
Strike Readiness Has Not Gone Away
The diplomatic signal is running in parallel with military pressure. CBS News reported that the Trump administration was preparing Friday for a fresh round of military strikes against Iran, citing sources with direct knowledge of the planning, while noting that no final decision had been made.
CBS reported that some U.S. military and intelligence personnel canceled holiday plans in anticipation of possible strikes, and that defense and intelligence officials were updating recall rosters for U.S. installations overseas. The outlet also reported that Tehran is reviewing the latest U.S. proposal, which was transmitted through Pakistan and accompanied by a warning that rejecting the final offer could mean strikes resume.
White House spokesperson Anna Kelly told CBS that President Donald Trump has made clear that Iran cannot possess a nuclear weapon or keep its enriched uranium, and that the Pentagon must be ready for any decision the commander-in-chief could make.
Hormuz Is Still the Pressure Point
The Strait of Hormuz remains central to the standoff. CBS reported that Rubio had referenced conversations with NATO members about how to reopen Hormuz through military force if Iran does not agree to do so itself, describing that as a possible “Plan B.”
Anadolu Agency also reported that Washington was weighing renewed military action while negotiations continued, and said Tehran was expected to respond soon to a U.S. proposal delivered through Pakistan. Anadolu separately noted in its May 23 briefing that Rubio had said there was “some slight progress” on Iran and Hormuz.
That combination is why Rubio’s India remarks matter. If the negotiations were simply stalled, there would be little reason to hint that news could come soon. If military action were already decided, there would be little reason to leave the diplomatic window open. The current signal is more unstable: diplomacy is moving, but the threat of renewed U.S. action is still part of the leverage.
The practical takeaway is blunt. The next Iran update may not be a finished peace deal. It could be an interim diplomatic step, a rejection, or a new ultimatum. But Rubio’s comments suggest Washington expects movement soon, and CBS’s reporting shows the military track is still being kept warm in case that movement breaks the wrong way.
Sources: Ynetnews, CBS News, Anadolu Agency.