United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio said a deal to end the war with Iran could materialize as soon as Monday, though he cautioned against reading too much into the timing. Speaking in New Delhi, Rubio said a solid proposal was on the table that would reopen key maritime routes and had broad support from Gulf nations.

Rubio expressed confidence that Iran would enter a serious and time-limited negotiation on its nuclear program. His comments came after President Donald Trump signaled he had urged negotiators not to rush, emphasizing that he would not agree to a bad deal.

The conflict began after the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran in late February, prompting missile and drone attacks across the region. A ceasefire has been in place since early April. Rubio also reaffirmed that Israel has the right to defend itself against attacks, including from Hezbollah, even during the ceasefire period.