▲ 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)

(LEAD) Rubio-Iran negotiation

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

(ATTN: ADDS more info in paras 6-9; TRIMS)

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.

The secretary pointed out that the issue of Iran's highly enriched uranium should be addressed as part of a peace deal with Iran.

"Iran can never have a nuclear weapon. The issue of highly enriched uranium has to be ... its disposition has to be dealt with, and of course the issue of future enrichment has to be dealt with as well," Rubio said.

"Those are the core pillars of any sort of agreement ... in addition to opening the straits, of course," he added, referring to the Strait of Hormuz that has effectively been choked off amid the Iran war.

Washington has been pressuring Tehran to reach a peace deal with it, as it seeks to end the hostilities and restore safe shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for shipments of oil, natural gas, fertilizer and other commodities.

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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