Washington: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon remains the central issue for the United States, even as tensions continue over the Strait of Hormuz and a fragile ceasefire holds.

Rubio made the remarks during an interview with Fox News after being asked about Iran’s latest proposal, which reportedly seeks to delay discussions on its nuclear programme while offering to ease pressure on the Strait of Hormuz if the US lifts its blockade and ends the war.

“There’s no doubt in my mind that at some point in the future, if this radical clerical regime remains in charge in Iran, they will decide they want a nuclear weapon,” Rubio said.

“That fundamental issue still has to be confronted,” he said. “That still remains the core issue here.”

Asked whether he believed Iranian officials were serious about reaching a deal, Rubio said Tehran was using negotiations to gain time.

“We can’t let them get away with it,” Rubio said. “We have to ensure that any deal that is made, any agreement that is made, is one that definitively prevents them from sprinting towards a nuclear weapon at any point.”

Strait of Hormuz crisis deepens

The comments come as Washington and Tehran remain locked in a standoff over the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most strategically vital shipping lanes.

Roughly one-fifth of globally traded oil and gas passes through the narrow waterway during peacetime, making any disruption a major threat to international markets.

The US blockade is aimed at stopping Iran from exporting oil, thereby cutting off a key source of revenue. Analysts say it could also force Tehran to reduce production if storage capacity becomes strained.

At the same time, restrictions around the strait have added political pressure on Donald Trump, with oil and gasoline prices rising sharply ahead of the upcoming midterm elections.

The disruption has also unsettled US allies in the Gulf region, many of whom rely on the route to ship their own crude oil and gas exports.

Global pressure mounts

Governments across multiple regions renewed calls on Monday for an end to the blockade, warning of broader economic fallout.

Rising energy prices have already contributed to higher costs for fertiliser, food and essential goods, increasing pressure on consumers worldwide.

Iran’s latest proposal would postpone negotiations over its nuclear programme, an issue Trump has repeatedly cited as a key reason for going to war with Tehran.

Despite the ceasefire, no breakthrough has yet been announced, and Washington continues to insist that any future agreement must permanently block Iran’s path to a nuclear weapon.