Rubio: Reaching an agreement with Iran will require tough effort for some time

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Wednesday that reaching an agreement with Iran will demand significant effort over a period of time, adding in remarks to reporters that President Donald Trump also has military options.

He added: "We will continue defending the straits and ensuring they remain open," stating: "Iran will not be allowed to possess nuclear weapons."

U.S. Secretary of State Rubio clarified that the international consensus holds that Iran's behavior in the region is malicious.

Rubio said Washington is pressuring Russia and Ukraine to halt reciprocal attacks on each other’s energy infrastructure.

He stated: "I believe President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will affirm that the ability to protect the power grid lies at the heart of his country’s interests, and this is something we can help achieve through an agreement."

He added: "It is clear that the Russian side is facing unprecedented strikes deep within its territory targeting vital sectors, making a deal on this limited scope difficult, but it is precisely this challenge that makes our attempt to reach an agreement of utmost importance."

He continued: "We will try, and I believe we are ready to play a positive role if possible, to achieve this."