U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that progress has been made in negotiations with Iran but did not reveal details. He also said he is not worried about attending the G7 summit amid the wartime atmosphere.
On 26 Mar 2026 GMT+7, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said before departing for the G7 foreign ministers' meeting in France, “There has been progress” in talks with Iran but declined to specify with whom he had discussions.
“There is a third country acting as an intermediary delivering messages, and clear progress has occurred in some areas,” Rubio said, adding that the talks are “an ongoing process with constant developments.”
Earlier that day, U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff confirmed at President Donald Trump's cabinet meeting that the U.S. has been conducting diplomatic talks with Iran through Pakistan as a mediator.
When asked whether he would request other G7 countries to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, Rubio replied, “That assistance is in their own interest,” noting, “Other countries get much more fuel from there than we do.”
Asked if he was concerned about the reception amid the wartime situation, Rubio said, “I'm not worried about that at all... I'm not going there to please them. I get along well personally with everyone, and we work carefully with those governments. But the people I really care about pleasing are the American people.”
. cnn