In a significant development in the ongoing nuclear negotiations with Iran, Senator Marco Rubio has made it clear that the United States will not lift its sanctions on the country unless Tehran agrees to abandon its enriched uranium program. Rubio's statement comes as a rebuff to a proposed deal that would have linked a US commitment to keep the Strait of Hormuz open to a relaxation of sanctions on Iran. The proposed deal, which has been touted as a way to ease tensions in the region, would have seen the US guarantee the free flow of oil through the strategic waterway in exchange for Iran's cooperation on its nuclear program. However, Rubio's rejection of this proposal suggests that the US is unwilling to make concessions on its core demands, setting the stage for a potentially contentious showdown with Iran.
Rubio says the US will lift sanctions on Iran only if it gives up enriched uranium, rejecting a Hormuz-linked deal.
