The United States remains open to a diplomatic resolution with Iran, provided Tehran halts attacks in the Strait of Hormuz, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Sunday.
The statement marks a clear conditional pathway for de-escalation, linking security guarantees for maritime traffic directly to the prospect of renewed negotiations.
Rubio emphasized that any agreement must be substantive and sustainable, noting a perceived internal division within Iran between hardline factions and those prioritizing economic stability.
The comments come as the US continues military operations against Iranian targets, with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) recently warning that the Strait remains unsafe for transit.
For energy markets, the Strait of Hormuz remains the critical chokepoint for global oil flows.
Any credible move toward securing the waterway would alleviate immediate shipping disruption risks, though traders are likely to wait for concrete evidence of reduced hostilities before pricing in a significant risk premium unwind.