▲ U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio gestures as he boards his plane at the end of a visit to Italy and the Vatican at Rome's Ciampino airport, Italy, on May 8, 2026, in this photo released by Reuters. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)

Rubio-Iran negotiations

U.S. expecting Iran to respond to peace proposals Friday: Rubio

By Song Sang-ho

WASHINGTON, May 8 (Yonhap) -- The United States expects Iran to respond to its proposals to end hostilities on Friday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said, noting that Tehran's "fractured" and "dysfunctional" system might impede its decision-making.

Rubio made the remarks during a press meeting in Rome, as Axios has reported that the U.S. and Iran are working on a 14-point memorandum of understanding that would declare an end to their war and the start of 30 days of negotiations on a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, limit Iran's nuclear program and lift U.S. sanctions.

"Well, we should know something today. I mean, we're expecting a response from them. We'll see what their response entails," Rubio said. "The hope is it's something that ... it can put us into a serious process of negotiation."

He also pointed out internal division in Iran that might have hampered efforts to come up with a coherent response.

"Their system is still highly fractured and a bit dysfunctional as well. So that may be serving as an impediment. I hope it's a serious offer. I really do."

Washington and Tehran have been seeking to narrow differences on a range of sticking points, including those concerning Iran's nuclear program and its push to hold sway over traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route for oil, fertilizer and other commodities.

The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday that the U.S. seeks a 20-year moratorium on Iran's uranium enrichment and the handover of all enriched nuclear material, and wants the dismantlement of the Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan facilities, a ban on underground nuclear work, and on-demand inspections with penalties for violations.

The U.S. also demands that Iran reopen the Strait of Hormuz gradually as the U.S. relaxes its blockade and then fully with a final deal, the report said.

While awaiting an Iranian response, the U.S. military doubled down on its naval blockade of Iranian ports and vessels.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said that U.S. forces on Friday disabled two Iranian-flagged unladen oil tankers attempting to pull into an Iranian port on the Gulf of Oman.

"U.S. forces in the Middle East remain committed to full enforcement of the blockade of vessels entering or leaving Iran," said CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper.

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