Marco Rubio, the U.S. Secretary of State, said on Wednesday, the first of Mehr, that preventing the Islamic Republic from obtaining nuclear weapons is the central focus of any negotiation with the Iranian regime, and emphasized that President Trump is still prepared to reach an agreement.

Mr. Rubio, speaking about consultations on Tuesday in New York, said the talks with the mediators involved in the negotiation process took place, and added: “Number one issue, at the center of all of this, is that [the regime] Iran can never have nuclear weapons.”

The U.S. secretary of state also said that the southern route through the Strait of Hormuz has remained open to the help of U.S. forces, and that more and more oil passes through it every day. He emphasized that the United States will continue to defend shipping and keep this waterway open.

Mr. Rubio declined to assess the likelihood of success of the talks and said reaching an agreement requires efforts over a period of time and continuing the work of the mediators.

He emphasized that President Trump is still prepared for an agreement that, while preventing the Islamic Republic from obtaining nuclear weapons, would provide the conditions for turning Iran into a “great and prosperous” country.