▲ U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks to the press after a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Helsingborg, Sweden, on May 22, 2026, in this photo released by the Associated Press. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)

Rubio-Iran negotiation

Rubio says Iran talks show 'some progress,' but two sides are 'not there yet'

By Song Sang-ho

WASHINGTON, May 22 (Yonhap) -- U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday took note of "some progress" in peace negotiations with Iran, but said the two sides are "not there yet," as Pakistan's top military officer was in Tehran in a mediation effort to help end the Middle East war.

Rubio made the remarks during a meeting with reporters after attending a ministerial meeting of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in Helsingborg in Sweden, as Pakistani Field Marshal Asim Munir reportedly touched down in Tehran for talks with top Iranian officials.

"There's been some progress. I wouldn't exaggerate it. I wouldn't diminish it," he said, according to a transcript released by the State Department.

"There's more work to be done, but look ... there's been some, and that's a good sign ... We're not there yet. I hope we get there. The president would prefer to do a good deal," he added.

He did not elaborate on what progress Washington and Tehran have made.

Washington and Tehran have been trying to narrow differences over key sticking points, including the U.S. demand for Iran to commit not to have a nuclear weapon and hand over its stockpile of enriched uranium to the United States.

On Monday, Trump announced a decision to hold off on an attack on Iran, planned for Tuesday, warning that the U.S. could go ahead with a "full, large-scale" assault on the Islamic Republic if a deal -- acceptable to the U.S. and countries in the Middle East -- is not reached.

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