Marco Rubio says US remains open to peace deal with Iran, calls Tehran's conditions 'absurd'

Rubio said the US was open to negotiations with Iran, but called some of Tehran's conditions "absurd". US secretary of state Marco Rubio on Tuesday said the Trump administration remained open to a peace deal with Iran, but called some of Tehran's demands "absurd" and indicated that Washington would intensify its economic pressure campaign against the Islamic Republic.US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington would intensify economic pressure against Iran. (AFP)His remarks came days after US President Donald Trump said the US military campaign against Iran was "effectively over", adding that Washington wanted to maintain the status quo in the region.Speaking to reporters in Paris on the sidelines of the G7 Foreign Ministers Meeting, Rubio said the US economic sanctions and naval blockade of Iranian ports had inflicted severe damage on Iran's economy and he had informed allies that there would be no need to resume major combat operations.The top US diplomat accused the "radical regime of lunatics" of destroying the country by refusing US demands to end the ongoing conflict. When asked about diplomatic efforts, Rubio said the US was open to negotiations but called Tehran's demands "unrealistic"."Iran would love a deal. The problem is the conditions they continue to place are absurd. Like, they’re not even serious right now. But that could change, certainly. I mean, eventually you have to eat, eventually you have to be able to pay your own fighters and your own security forces and so forth," he remarked.Also Read | US treasury chief Scott Bessent relocated to military base amid Iranian threats: ReportUS to intensify economic pressureRubio said the US campaign was wreaking "devastation" on the Iranian economy and indicated that it was likely to intensify in the coming months."The economic pressure is going to get even worse. I mean, understand that these sanctions begin to compound. So, for example, Iran still has a small number of – just a handful of barrels of oil left on the water that got past the blockade when it was the MOU and that brief ceasefire period. Once that dries up, almost all of their oil revenue will dry up," he added..@SecRubio: The economic campaign against the Iranian regime is working so well that @POTUS doesn't need to conduct major combat operations. Obviously, if Iran crosses certain red lines, the U.S. military—the most capable military in the world—stands ready to address it. https://t.co/iQ0J1Ya3Q2— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) November 10, 2026 Rubio also remarked that the Iranian people "deserve better than to be a third-world country, which is where their leadership is taking them."According to an Axios report, Rubio told G7 allies that Trump had considered resuming the war with Iran or reaching a deal but ultimately chose a third option: strangling the Iranian regime.Additionally, Rubio also ruled out US reparations to Iran, saying, "We’re not going to pay. Iran is demanding reparations. They should be the ones paying reparations because they’re the ones that have destabilized the region. They’re demanding pallets of cash, which the president made clear is not going to happen."Also Read | Zelensky, Rubio hail Russia-Ukraine talks in Abu Dhabi as ‘constructive, very productive’Iran slams Rubio's remarksIranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi criticised Rubio's remarks on Iran, referring to them as "delusions"."8 years ago a cartoon character like Pompeo said Iranians must follow White House diktat “if they want to eat”. Today, Rubio—whose fellow Cubans are victims of same policy—repeats that drivel. Forget about the inhumanity. It's the delusions that are producing failed US policy," he said.Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts to end the US-Iran war gathered pace as Trump said he saw "positive momentum" towards a resolution after initial concerns over an escalation following the Republican Party's resounding defeat in the recent midterm elections.The leaders of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey and Qatar have been seeking to persuade Trump against renewed military action. Iran has offered to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within two days if Washington agreed to a raft of conditions, asserting that only diplomacy and respect can bring an end to the conflict.Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Content Producer at the Hindustan Times, based in Greater Noida West. With more than five years of experience in digital journalism, Aveek has worked extensively in covering national politics and international affairs, including elections, high-profile diplomatic engagements and geopolitical conflicts. His experience covers a wide range of major events, including the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections, multiple state assembly elections, US elections, Operation Sindoor, Air India crash, India-US trade tensions to the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Iran. Before joining Hindustan Times, Aveek worked at the editorial teams of CNN-News18, India TV and Asian News International (ANI), during which he developed an understanding of the high-pressure newsroom environment and honed his skills in covering breaking news, tracking crucial developments, and producing accurate news content under tight deadlines while maintaining editorial standards. These stints have also provided exposure to diverse newsroom environments and the evolving standards of the media industry. Aveek holds a Master's degree in Global Studies from Ambedkar University Delhi and a Bachelor's degree in journalism and mass communication from Vivekananda Institute of Professional Studies. Outside the newsroom, he enjoys reading, pursuing photography and exploring new places in his free time. You can reach him at aveek.banerjee@htdigital.in.Read MoreMarco RubioUs Iran Conflict