US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told lawmakers on Tuesday that Iran has agreed to begin limited discussions over parts of its nuclear programme, describing it as a cautious but notable shift in Tehran’s position amid escalating regional conflict.
Appearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Rubio said Iran had shown willingness to engage on issues it previously refused to discuss, although he stressed that this did not guarantee a final agreement or a resolution to the ongoing US-Israeli confrontation involving Tehran.
He stated that “they have agreed to negotiate aspects of their nuclear programme that just a month ago, just a year ago, they were refusing to even mention,” while warning that any outcome would still need approval from Congress and could ultimately fall short of an acceptable deal.
Rubio also noted that internal instability in Iran’s leadership has complicated the prospects for sustained diplomacy. He added that the Trump administration has not offered sanctions relief in exchange for reopening strategic waterways such as the Strait of Hormuz, saying any easing of restrictions would depend on clear nuclear-related conditions being met.
US officials say the talks remain at an early and conditional stage, with major disagreements still unresolved over sanctions, uranium enrichment limits, and regional security guarantees. Despite the tentative diplomatic opening, skepticism remains in Washington over whether a durable agreement can be reached as hostilities continue and ceasefire efforts remain fragile.
The remarks came during Rubio’s first appearance before the committee since the outbreak of the Iran conflict, with lawmakers pressing him on military escalation, stalled diplomacy, and the administration’s broader Middle East strategy.
The hearing also focused on the State Department’s $36 billion budget request, amid growing uncertainty as the three-month conflict drags on without a clear path to resolution.
Optimism from earlier in the week, when President Donald Trump suggested progress toward a potential deal with Tehran, has since weakened after Iran suspended talks in response to ongoing Israeli strikes in Lebanon, further straining already fragile negotiations.
Rubio is also expected to testify before the House of Representatives later on Tuesday as scrutiny intensifies over Washington’s handling of the crisis and its long-term regional policy.
