US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that progress had been made in talks between the US and Iran, while stressing that negotiations were still far from a final agreement.
Speaking after a meeting of NATO ministers in Sweden, Rubio stated that diplomatic efforts were progressing, but that several sensitive issues continued to stall the discussions. "Progress has been made... but we're not there yet," he told reporters.
The negotiations focus in particular on the Iranian nuclear program and on the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic passage whose closure since the beginning of the conflict has caused strong tensions on global energy markets.
Washington and Tehran remain at odds over the future of Iran's enriched uranium stockpiles and security guarantees around the strait, through which a significant portion of global oil and gas exports pass.
Meanwhile, several countries in the region are attempting to mediate. Pakistan is continuing diplomatic exchanges with both sides, while Qatar has sent a delegation to Tehran to help resolve the main points of contention.
These diplomatic efforts are being closely watched by international financial markets. Oil prices have risen sharply in recent weeks, while the US dollar has approached its highest level in six weeks amid geopolitical uncertainty.
Marco Rubio also acknowledged the difficulty of discussions with Iranian officials, referring to them as "very difficult" interlocutors, while stating his hope that an agreement could finally be reached in order to avoid an escalation of the conflict and its global economic consequences.
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