Washington, D.C., April 1 (ANI) — Senator Marco Rubio told Fox News that President Donald Trump remains open to negotiations with Iran but will not allow Tehran to use “fake” talks as a stalling tactic.
Rubio emphasized that while the U.S. will continue to pursue diplomacy, Iran has for decades avoided meaningful negotiations. He noted previous U.S. efforts to give Iran time to engage — including a 60-day window last year and additional time after recent military actions — but said those rounds had been fruitless. Rubio added that President Trump prefers diplomacy over war and will keep seeking direct engagement when it can produce results.
‘There are messages being exchanged. There are talks going on. There is the potential for a direct meeting at some point,’ Rubio said, adding that the administration is open to talks but will not allow ‘fake negotiations being used as a delay tactic to buy more time.’
On a related security topic, Rubio questioned the value of NATO if European allies restrict U.S. use of bases on their soil. He described his long-standing support for the alliance — in part because American bases in Europe allow the U.S. to project power when national security is threatened — and warned that denying access would turn NATO into a ‘one-way street.’
‘If now we have reached a point where the NATO alliance means that we can’t use those bases — that, in fact, we can no longer use those bases to defend America’s interests — then NATO is a one-way street,’ he said. Rubio said the United States will need to reassess the alliance and its benefits after the current conflict concludes, and that ultimately the president will decide the U.S. position.
Earlier, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced that President Trump is scheduled to deliver a televised address about the ongoing hostilities with Iran on Thursday night. In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on March 31, 2026, Leavitt urged viewers to ‘TUNE IN: Tomorrow night at 9PM ET, President Trump will give an Address to the Nation to provide an important update on Iran.’
(Reported by ANI. This content is from a syndicated feed and is published as received; the Tribune assumes no responsibility for its completeness or accuracy.)
