'Iranian demands are outrageous,' Rubio says as talks fail to make progress

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed disappointment on Sunday over the lack of progress in talks with Iran, stating the US is not close to a diplomatic breakthrough with Tehran. During an interview prior to his attendance at the G7 foreign ministers meeting in France, Rubio emphasized that only a few nations continue to engage with Iran, but he did not describe this as a step closer to resolving the conflict.

The president remains committed to finding a diplomatic solution to the issue, but acknowledges the challenges posed by Iran's demands, which are often deemed unacceptable and outrageous by Rubio. He also mentioned that although President Donald Trump prefers resolving problems diplomatically, there are instances where this approach may not be feasible.

At present, the negotiations have been unfruitful due to the Iranian demands, which he described as being detached from reality. In addition to the ongoing talks, Rubio touched upon the possibility of further military action by the US against Iran, stating that they would take defensive measures if their forces or shipping were threatened in the region.

The decision to act would depend on the severity of the threat and whether it posed a risk to American interests. Rubio also defended President Trump's decision to engage in a military confrontation with Iran, despite potential political repercussions. He argued that a nuclear Iran would be a significant threat not only to Israel and the Middle East but also to the entire world and the United States.

He maintained that sometimes the right course of action may not be popular but is still necessary. Lastly, Rubio refrained from commenting on whether the military action had contributed to Republican losses in the recent US midterm elections.