U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio

May 6, 2026 9:27 AM

Trump pauses effort to escort ships in Strait of Hormuz, citing deal progress

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he would briefly pause an operation to help escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz, citing "great progress" toward a comprehensive agreement with Iran. Hours earlier, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio had outlined the effort that began on Monday to escort stranded tankers out of the Gulf. The strait has been virtually shut since the conflict began, blocking some 20% of world oil supplies and igniting a global energy crisis. "We have mutually agr...

May 6, 2026 9:20 AM

Rubio expects to discuss religious freedom with Pope Leo after Trump blasts pontiff

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Tuesday he expected to discuss Cuba and concerns over religious freedom around the world with Pope Leo during his visit to the Vatican on Thursday, after President Donald Trump took a fresh potshot at the pope for criticising the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran. The U.S. ambassador to the Holy See said earlier that Rubio and the pope would "have a frank conversation about U.S. policy, to engage in dialogue." "Nations have disagreements, and I think one...

April 15, 2026 4:35 PM

Hezbollah says Lebanon’s talks with Israel widen national rift

Hezbollah said on Wednesday the Lebanese government's decision to hold talks with Israel was "a national sin" that would widen divisions in Lebanon, underlining deep polarisation in the country as the Iran-backed group wages war with Israel. Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah said Tuesday's U.S.-mediated meeting between Lebanon's Washington ambassador and her Israeli counterpart did not reflect Lebanon's national identity or "the choices of its people". The meeting hosted by U.S. Secretary of...

April 8, 2026 9:55 AM

Abducted US journalist Kittleson released by Iraqi armed group, Rubio says

The Iran-aligned Iraqi armed group Kataib Hezbollah has released abducted U.S. journalist Shelly Kittleson, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Tuesday. Officials from the Pentagon, the FBI and the Iraqi Supreme Judicial Council were among the people who assisted in securing Kittleson's release, Rubio said in a statement. She was abducted in late March in Baghdad. "We are relieved that this American is now free and are working to support her safe departure from Iraq," he added. Kataib...

April 1, 2026 3:37 PM

World markets rocket higher on optimism Iran war could end soon

Stocks soared, bonds rallied and the dollar wallowed on Wednesday, as hopes of a de-escalation in the Iran conflict fuelled the biggest rebound in regional equities in more than three years. Europe's STOXX 600 surged 2.3% in early trade - on track for its biggest daily jump in a year - as travel stocks rose about 4% and aerospace and defence stocks were 3.6% higher. German bund yields fell 7 basis points . MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan rose 4.7%, snapping a four-da...

April 1, 2026 9:51 AM

Rubio says US can see ‘finish line’ on Iran war

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Tuesday Washington could see the "finish line" in the Iran war, which is now in its fifth week, and the U.S. will have to reexamine ties with NATO after the conflict. "We can see the finish line. It's not today, it's not tomorrow, but it is coming," Rubio told Fox News Channel's "Hannity" show. The war began on February 28 when the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran. Tehran ⁠responded by launching its own attacks on Israel and Gulf states with U.S. b...

February 13, 2026 3:30 PM

Rubio strikes warmer tone as Trump’s upheaval of Atlantic ties looms over Munich meet

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned transatlantic ties faced a "defining moment" in a rapidly changing world but struck a warmer tone ahead of the Munich Security Conference on Friday after a year of unprecedented upheaval. At the same gathering of top security officials last year, Vice President JD Vance had attacked European allies, triggering a series of confrontations, with the U.S. seemingly set on dismantling much of the international order it helped to build. In response, Washing...