Rubio Says Trump Chooses Diplomacy Despite Having Many Options

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said President Donald Trump possesses a range of options if Iran rejects the terms of a joint agreement, but Washington is choosing to give diplomacy a chance. The statement was made by Rubio to reporters on Thursday. “The President has many options at his disposal. If Iran reneges on its promises, or if Iran decides it does not want to reach an agreement, let us hope that does not happen. We do not want that. We will give every opportunity for diplomacy to succeed,” Rubio said. Rubio stressed that the memorandum of understanding, or MoU, between the United States and Iran is not a final agreement. According to him, the document merely establishes a framework and outline for continued negotiations between the two countries. On the night leading to 18 June, Iran and the United States signed the memorandum of understanding remotely. The document regulates the cessation of the military conflict said to have begun on 28 February. In addition to halting the conflict, the document also contains a schedule for the United States to lift its naval blockade of Iranian ports. In return, Iran is expected to restore shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. Another commitment outlined in the framework is that Iran will not acquire nuclear weapons. However, the issue of Iran’s nuclear programme was not resolved in the MoU and will be addressed through a separate agreement. Both parties are scheduled to hold negotiations on the nuclear issue within 60 days. For Tehran, the desired outcome of that process is the lifting of sanctions currently imposed on Iran. Rubio’s statement indicates that Washington is still keeping the negotiation channel open, while continuing to prepare other options should the diplomatic process fail to produce an agreement. This stance signals that the signed MoU still requires further discussion before it can become a full agreement.