Rabia Iclal Turan
April 07, 2026•Update: April 07, 2026
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Tuesday he expects potential developments “later today” on whether Iran will come to the negotiating table, as tensions remain high over maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz.
“Hope we have more news later today on that,” Rubio told reporters when asked if Iran is expected to come to the table for peace talks, ahead of a meeting with New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters at the State Department.
“The whole world’s been impacted unfortunately because Iran is violating every law known by striking commercial vessels in the Straits of Hormuz, and it’s a big problem for the world,” he said.
The remarks came after US President Donald Trump gave Iran until 8 p.m. Tuesday to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and reach an agreement or face attacks on its energy infrastructure.
Regional tensions have escalated since the US and Israel launched a joint offensive on Iran on Feb. 28, killing more than 1,400 people to date, including then-Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Iran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, as well as Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries hosting US military assets. Iran has also restricted the movement of ships through the Strait of Hormuz.
Meanwhile, the State Department said in a readout that Rubio and his New Zealand counterpart, Winston Peters, discussed bilateral ties, the war in Iran, critical minerals supply chains, and security in the Pacific Islands.
"Secretary Rubio and Foreign Minister Peters applauded the enduring friendship between New Zealand and the United States and reaffirmed their commitment to advancing shared interests and strategic priorities," the State Department said.
