From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, May 5, 2026
Current Iran talks are over a framework for future negotiations, says Rubio
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleJacob Magid is The Times of Israel's US bureau chief
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reveals that the current negotiations with Iran are over a general framework for further discussions on Tehran’s nuclear program, rather than a final agreement.
“The process we’re engaged in now… is coming up with some level of understanding about the topics that they’ve agreed to negotiate on,” Rubio says during a White House press conference.
“We don’t have to have the actual agreement written out in one day. This is highly complex and highly technical. We have to have a diplomatic solution that is very clear about the topics that they’re willing to negotiate on and the concessions they are willing to make at the front end in order to make those talks worthwhile.”
“That’s what [US envoys] Steve [Witkoff] and Jared [Kushner] and the whole team is working on, and I hope to have good news on it,” Rubio says.
He insists that the US has the upper-hand in talks with Iran, due to its sanctions and blockade of Tehran’s ports.
Nonetheless, Iran has refused to accept US demands that it give up its right to enrich and hand over its stockpiles of highly-enriched uranium.
The Times of Israel Community.