Rubio Says Iran Talks Stalled by Disputes Over Wording

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said negotiations over a new Iran agreement have become bogged down in disputes over the precise wording of the text.

“It’s going to take a couple of days to settle . . . down to the disagreements over a word, a sentence”, Rubio told reporters during a visit to India.

His remarks came just hours after the US military launched strikes on Iranian missile launchers and vessels near the Strait of Hormuz. Washington described the attacks as acts of “self-defense”.

Rubio also stressed that the Strait of Hormuz must remain open.

“The straits have to be open, they’re going to be open one way or the other”, he said.

Iranian authorities have not officially commented on the strikes. However, Iranian state-linked media described them as a violation of the current ceasefire.

(cnn, bak)