Rubio says deal possible within days as explosions rock strategic port city near Hormuz

Even as American warplanes struck targets in southern Iran, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Tuesday that a deal with Tehran remains possible, suggesting that diplomacy and military action may be running on parallel tracks.

"There were some talks going on in Qatar today, so we'll see if we can make progress," Rubio told reporters in Jaipur, where he is on an official visit to India. He acknowledged that negotiators are haggling over "specific language in the initial document," adding that a breakthrough could take "a few days."

The comments came just hours after the US military confirmed fresh "self-defence" strikes in southern Iran, targeting missile launch sites and boats allegedly attempting to lay mines near the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

Explosions Rock Bandar Abbas

Multiple blast reports emerged from the southern Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas, a critical naval hub along the strait. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps acknowledged three explosions early Tuesday local time, without immediately specifying the cause.

A later IRGC statement said air defence systems had been activated near Bandar Abbas airport after another blast was heard. State-run IRNA reported "several consecutive explosions" around midnight, while Fars News Agency, citing eyewitnesses, said blasts were also heard near Sirik and Jask along the Persian Gulf coastline.

US Central Command spokesman Timothy Hawkins described the operation as defensive. "US forces conducted self-defence strikes in southern Iran today to protect our troops from threats posed by Iranian forces," he said.

Trump Raises Stakes on Nuclear Issue

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump injected fresh complexity into the diplomatic calculus, posting on Truth Social that Iran's enriched uranium stockpile must be handed over to the United States for destruction or dismantled under international supervision.

Trump described the material as "nuclear dust" and indicated the process would involve the Atomic Energy Commission "or its equivalent." The demand signals Washington is pushing for concrete nuclear rollbacks, not just ceasefire arrangements.

Tehran Strikes Cautious Note

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baqai acknowledged progress in talks with the US on Monday but warned against premature optimism. "It is correct to say that we have reached a conclusion on a large portion of the issues under discussion," Baqai said. "But to say that this means the signing of an agreement is imminent, no one can make such a claim."

Tehran has not formally responded to the latest American strikes, leaving observers uncertain whether the attacks will derail Qatari-mediated negotiations.

Oil Prices Jump on Renewed Fears

Crude oil prices climbed in Asian trading following the Bandar Abbas strikes. Brent crude rose nearly 2% to around $97 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate approached $91 per barrel.

The Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly one-fifth of global oil supply passes, has been effectively disrupted since Tehran escalated its military posture in late February. Rubio struck a firm tone on the waterway's status. "The straits have to be open. They're going to be open one way or the other," he said.

The current conflict traces back to February 28, when the US and Israel launched large-scale strikes on Iran, triggering Tehran's retaliation against Israel and allied Gulf states. Despite the violence, Trump indicated over the weekend that he had instructed negotiators "not to rush into" an agreement, suggesting Washington is willing to let military and diplomatic tracks play out simultaneously.