BREAKING: Iran: Nuclear Talks Are Highly Technical Matters, You Can’t Do A Nuclear Thing In 72 Hours – Rubio

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According to a report by Al Jazeera on May 24, 2026, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told The New York Times that an agreement with Iran had attracted regional support, but stressed that a nuclear deal could not be completed “in 72 hours on the back of a napkin.” His remarks followed US President Donald Trump’s instruction to negotiators “not to rush into a deal” aimed at ending the three-month war with Iran.

Rubio, speaking in a brief interview with The New York Times, emphasized the technical nature of nuclear diplomacy. “We’re not kicking it till later. Nuclear talks are highly technical matters. You can’t do a nuclear thing in 72 hours on the back of a napkin,” he said.

He further noted that the United States had already secured backing from several regional partners for its approach. “So right now, we have seven or eight countries in the region that are endorsing this approach, and we’re prepared to move forward on this approach,” Rubio added.

The comments come amid ongoing efforts by Washington to build momentum for a negotiated settlement while avoiding what officials describe as rushed diplomacy. The Trump administration has maintained that any agreement with Tehran must be carefully structured, particularly given the complexity of nuclear verification and compliance mechanisms.

Diplomatic sources say discussions remain at a sensitive stage, with negotiations focusing on security guarantees, monitoring frameworks, and phased implementation steps. Regional stakeholders are closely watching the process, as any deal with Iran is expected to have wide-ranging implications for Middle East stability.