Trump Suddenly Softens Towards Iran, Demands Fulfilment of Promise on This
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that his side is awaiting an official response from Iran on Friday regarding a proposal to end the war. Tensions in the Middle East are now at a critical point, with time-sensitive diplomatic efforts underway amid the still-escalating conflict.
Citing a report from CNBC International, Rubio conveyed this to journalists in Rome during a visit to Pope Leo XIV on Friday (08/05/2026). He hopes Tehran’s response will lead both parties into a more serious and focused negotiation process.
“We should know something today. We are waiting for their response. We’ll see what the response contains. The hope is for something that can bring us into a serious negotiation process,” said Marco Rubio.
On the other hand, Iran stated on Thursday that it is reviewing messages from the US received through Pakistani mediators. However, Iranian state media, quoting an official, reported that Tehran has not yet reached a conclusion or provided an official response.
Reports from Axios and other media earlier this week indicated that the two countries are actually close to agreeing on a memorandum of understanding (MoU) containing 14 points. The memorandum is designed to end the warfare while continuing discussions on Iran’s nuclear programme.
Rubio’s statement comes amid confusion over whether the ceasefire between Iran and the US is still in effect. This was triggered by mutual attacks in the Strait of Hormuz, where both sides accused each other of initiating the strikes.
President Donald Trump insisted on Thursday that the ceasefire remains in place and described the attacks as mere “love taps.” Trump also claimed that Iran is very keen to reach a peace agreement.
“We have seen reports last night that Iran has formed, or is trying to form, an entity that would control traffic in that strait. That would be a problem. That is actually unacceptable,” Rubio stressed.
A blockade in the narrow waterway poses a serious threat because it typically carries about one-fifth of global oil supplies. This situation has caused global energy shocks, which the International Energy Agency (IEA) has described as “the greatest threat to energy security in history.”