Marco Rubio's critical role in talks with Iran and whether he will run for US president?

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is playing a significant behind-the-scenes role in negotiations with Iran, alongside special envoy Steve Witkoff. According to an NBC News report, Rubio made a critical decision in April in Pakistan when he determined that the U.S. cannot accept the Iranian proposal. Meanwhile, questions arise about his political future: Rubio does not plan to run for president in 2028, but has not ruled it out entirely, and may run as J.D. Vance's running mate.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is playing a significant behind-the-scenes role in efforts to reach an agreement with Iran, according to an NBC News report. While special envoy Steve Witkoff leads the actual negotiations with Tehran, Rubio makes critical decisions. According to a U.S. administration official, during a meeting in April in Pakistan, members of the delegation began to fear that the Iranians were changing their terms. During a break in the talks, they called Rubio, who determined that the U.S. cannot accept the Iranian proposal – meaning there would be no agreement. Witkoff consults with Rubio before each round of negotiations, receives instructions from him, and updates him after meetings. Over the past weekend, the two spoke several times amid the escalation with Iran and Yemen. Meanwhile, questions arise about Rubio's political future. He said that at this point he has no plans to run for president in 2028, but associates emphasized that he has not ruled it out entirely. Another possibility is that he will run as J.D. Vance's running mate. Trump himself has previously raised the possibility that Rubio and Vance would run together in 2028.