Rubio Sees "Some Good Signs" for Iran Peace Deal; Warns Hormuz Tolls Are Dealbreaker

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told the Financial Times there were 'some good signs' that an agreement with Iran may be reached, in the most optimistic public US assessment of the negotiations to date. Iran's Foreign Ministry responded that the latest US proposal 'reduced the gaps to some extent.' Global stock markets rose on the positive signals, with oil prices edging lower on expectations of potential Hormuz reopening. However, Rubio simultaneously issued a sharp warning: any deal would be 'unfeasible' if Iran pursued transit tolls on Strait of Hormuz shipping — directly rejecting a key Iranian demand that Tehran claimed was a sovereign right over its territorial waters. The mixed signals reflected the narrow and complex path toward a comprehensive settlement.