Rubio: 'Significant Progress, Although Not Final Progress' — Defends Iran Deal Push; Dismisses Critics as 'Absurd' — Day 86

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on May 24, 2026 (Day 86) stated there has been 'significant progress, although not final progress' in US-Iran negotiations — a notably more positive characterization than his 'good signs' and 'slight progress' language from May 22. Rubio defended the Iran deal push against critics, calling opposition from some quarters 'absurd,' and stressed that Trump's non-negotiable commitment to permanently preventing Iranian nuclear weapons acquisition remains the core US objective. The 'significant' upgrade in Rubio's diplomatic language on Day 86 — coming 24 hours after Trump declared the deal 'largely negotiated' — suggests genuine momentum in the back-channel talks, even as both sides have cautioned against premature announcements. Rubio's statement was delivered to reporters amid ongoing questions about the nuclear moratorium duration and Hormuz implementation timeline. The Secretary specifically defended engagement with Iranian counterparts via Pakistani mediation channels, rejecting criticism that the US is rewarding Iran for its aggression.