Rubio Says No Iran Sanctions Relief Without Denuclearization

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the Trump administration has not offered to ease sanctions on Iran in exchange for reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

Reuters reported on June 2 that Rubio made the remarks at a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing. It was his first appearance at a public congressional hearing since the war began after U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran in late February.

Rubio testified that any sanctions relief now being discussed with Iran would be conditional. He said Iran would have to abandon the nuclear program that led to the sanctions before receiving any relief. Sanctions could be lifted only if Iran agrees to halt nuclear activities, including work involving highly enriched uranium, he added.

The hearing was held to discuss the Trump administration's budget proposal. The administration asked Congress to cut the diplomatic budget by 30% to $36 billion and increase the defense budget by 50% to $1.5 trillion.

Democrats criticized what they called the administration's unilateral Middle East policy. Senator Jeanne Shaheen, a Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said voters want economic stability at home, not regime change in Tehran. She said the administration had avoided accountability even as U.S. forces struck Iran and Iran attacked U.S. bases in the Middle East.

Rising consumer prices and gasoline costs in the U.S. have also worsened public sentiment, fueling concern among some Republicans about a prolonged war. Republicans want the Strait of Hormuz reopened to lower oil prices ahead of the November election that will determine control of Congress. But hard-liners in the party oppose any concessions to Iran, leaving the chances of a deal uncertain.